Ten Centuries of Croatian Music
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WWee ggratefullyratet ffulll y acaacknowledgeckknowo lleddge ththehe susupportuppp oro t ofoof:f: An agency of the Government of Ontario Un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario HISTORY OF CROATIAN MUSIC FAMOUS CROATIAN ARTISTS The thousand year old musical heritage of Croatia is indeed a collection of over 50 melodies almost all in the Croatian Croatian artists have contributed much to the field of unique. Borne of the finest cultural and religious customs language. Croatian ecclesiastical hymns and mass texts music as educators, composers, musicians and vocalists in in Europe, Croatian artists contributed much to choral, were also included in the Cithara octochorda, the Croatia and throughout the world. instrumentation and composition within a continental milieu greatest printed collection of sacred hymns and arias During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the works and developed a distinct, diverse national musical tradition of the 1700s and evidence that the faithful sang in their of Ivan Lukačić (ca.1584-1648) and Luka Sorkočević as well. This heritage continues to be celebrated and native tongue even during Latin mass. (1734-1789) attested to the highly developed musical life nurtured by Croats around the world. of Dalmatia in Croatia. Vatroslav Lisinski’s (1819-1854) As part of the Croatian national revival (also called Illyrian production of the first opera, solo song and choral and The sacral origins of Croatian music are rooted in the movement) of the 1830s, Croatian music fostered greater orchestral music set a high standard in Croatian national neumatic code of the which national consciousness in opposition to Hungarian and Sacramentary MR 126 musical expression for future artists. Ivan Zajc’s (1832-1914) appeared after the establishment of the Archbishopric of German hegemony. This was perhaps best exemplified popular opera Nikola Šubić Zrinjski symbolized patriotism Zagreb in 1094. This work became the basis of the Zagreb by Antun Mihanović’s poem Horvatska Domovina, set in the struggle against foreign domination. Jakov Gotovac Ceremony which was among the oldest documents of the to music by Josip Runjanin, which later became Croatia’s (1895-1982) was the long-time opera conductor of the Latin liturgy in Northern Croatia. From the 11th to 15th national anthem. This period of Romanticism saw the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and composer of the centuries, a series of neumatic codes and manuscripts establishment of the Croatian Musical Institute (1827) and opera Ero s onoga svijeta. related to the liturgy and pontifical ceremonials revealed Croatian Musical Academy (1829) who would produce Among Croatia’s prominent classical artists is Josip an incredible diversity in the form of Benevento script in world renown composers, musicians and vocalists. Kašman (1850-1925), an operatic baritone who performed Dalmatia, Gregorian chant in the north as well as Glagolitic At a local level, this period saw a flowering of musical in Europe, North America, South America and Africa and chant and Old Church Slavonic found throughout ensembles, theatre groups, dramatic theatre and then taught in Rome until his death. In the early 1900s, Croatian lands. popular festivals. Soprano Milka Trnina (1863-1941) performed at the greatest opera houses in Germany, Austria and the United These important remnants indicate that an organized musical The early 1900s saw many Croats study music abroad and States and taught her craft in New York City before she life existed in the Sava River valley in the north and along their return ushered in the Modernism period of Croatian retired to Zagreb, Croatia. Zinka Kunc Milanov (1906- the Adriatic coast in the south, particularly in Zadar, Šibenik, music. This talented group gained prominence primarily 1989), studied under Trnina and after almost a decade with Trogir, Split and Kotor. This period also witnessed the use of as composers and in the field of pedagogy. A number of the opera in Zagreb, she continued her career as a soprano the Croatian language with the first hymn in 1320 and grew these emphasized the folk tradition in their works during with the Metropolitan Opera of New York from 1937-66 with the creation of the cantorate of the Split cathedral in the interwar period while others fulfilled the demand for where she also served as a vocal instructor. Louis Svećenski 1347. The presence of church organists in Zagreb and Zadar Croatian dance melodies with the rise of popular music (1862-1926), born Ljudevit Kohn in Osijek, was a Croatian- in the 14th century also facilitated this trend. after 1933. American violinist with the famous Kneisel Quartet and The Renaissance period heralded a new era in Croatian Following World War II, an interest in vocal music Boston Symphony Orchestra (1885-1903) who later taught music as central European and Italian influences took it influenced by folk tradition enjoyed a revival but most at the Julliard School in New York City and Curtis Institute beyond the religious milieu. In the 1500s, many Croats composers sought out the cosmopolitan of musical speech of Music in Philadelphia. studied abroad, gained prominence and returned to their and did not hide their admiration for modern European Popular Croatian musical artists from the older generation homeland to incorporate folklore and popular elements in music. The tremendous growth of musical ensembles in include Ivo Robić, Vice Vukov, Tereza Kesovija, Zdenka the creation of a new domestic music tradition. Composition the form of light orchestral music and jazz and Croatian Vučković, Gabi Novak, Arsen Dedić, Zvonko Spišić and of frotollas and madrigals moved from a homophonic to composers produced works on par with those in so-called Beti Jurković. Other Croatian pop music stars are Oliver Dragojević, Josipa Lisac, Krunoslav “Kićo” Slabinac, Vera more complex polyphonic structure in this era while music western culture. Svoboda, Mišo Kovač, Jasna Zlokić, Đelo Jušić, Meri and dance became a growing part in theatrical productions. Since 1971, popular music has mirrored global trends Cetinić, Željko Bebek, Gibonni and the popular group The flourishing Republic of Dubrovnik, with its wealth of yet still incorporated folklore elements. The downfall of Prljavo Kazalište. writers, composers, musicians and actors was perhaps the communism led to a resurgence of national themes across Croats who have gained prominence in the global music best example of this artistic activity into the 1700s. all types of music. Freed from the oppression of ideology, industry are Luka Bulić and Stjepan Hauser of the 2Cellos, While the Baroque period had influenced both secular and celebration of national expression has fostered creative Lorde (Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor), Krist Novoselić sacral traditions, it had a greater effect upon the latter. fusion of components of folklore (composition, vocals, of Nirvana, Walter Parazaider of Chicago, David Paich of Most prominent of these was the Paulist Hymnal of 1644, instrumentation) with all musical genres. Toto, Johnny Mercer and Guy Mitchell. OPERA HOUSES IN CROATIA CROATIAN MUSIC IN CANADA As one of Europe’s smallest nations with a population of Croatian music has played a significant part in the lives approximately four million people, Croatia has the unique of Croatian immigrants in Canada since the late 1800s. distinction of having four major opera houses. These fine For Croatian miners, railway labourers and lumberjacks in examples of architecture continue to host opera, concert, Canadian frontier areas it served as a much needed source theatrical and ballet performances. The Croatian National of leisure after a hard day’s work under challenging work Theatre also operates three smaller venues in Varaždin, conditions. Prior to 1914, Croatian tamburica orchestras Šibenik and Zadar. were established throughout Canada while others were created with the establishment of fraternal societies. The Croatian National Theatre In the interwar era, over 20,000 immigrants arrived in was founded in Canada. From the late 1920s and through the Great 1836 during the Depression of the 1930s, many benevolent organizations national revival of and Croatian National Homes were created across the the Illyrian Period. country and were mandated to educate and preserve The addition of an Croatian culture for their members. Tamburica orchestras, opera company in choirs and theatre groups flourished during this period 1870 and the arrival of Ivan Zajc as its first Director led to and facilitated learning as well as an outlet for cultural the relocation of the theatre from Zagreb’s Upper Town expression. There is also evidence of Croatian hymns being to its current site at the Square of the Republic of Croatia. sung at mass held by Croatian missionaries who visited Construction took a year and a half and the building various communities across Canada. opened in October, 1895. With a capacity of 709 seats, it Another wave of Croatian immigrants arrived in Canada was designed by Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer following World War II as displaced persons and refugees. of Vienna who built many other opera houses in the Austro-Hungarian empire and entrenched Croatia’s place After years in refugee camps in Allied occupied zones in in the cultural life of central Europe. Austria, Italy and Germany their arrival in Canada led to the establishment of Roman Catholic missions and churches The first theatre in Rijeka was built in 1765 and the current throughout Canada. Croatian parishes not only established was opened in late 1885. Due to political circumstances, choirs but also sponsored folklore groups that provided Croats were unable to use the facility for much of the specialized instruction in music, song, and dance for first half of the 20th century and Croatian productions parishioners. Secular Croatian organizations also supported reappeared after 1945. It was later renamed the Croatian cultural education and programming throughout Canada National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka and gained status through such institutions as national homes, independent as a national theatre in 1991.