Marxism and Sociopolitical Engagement In Serbian Musical Periodicals between the Two World Wars Cover Image

Marksizam i društvenopolitički angažman u srpskoj muzičkoj periodici između dva svetska rata“
Marxism and Sociopolitical Engagement In Serbian Musical Periodicals between the Two World Wars

Author(s): Aleksandar Vasić
Subject(s): History
Published by: Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Keywords: marxism; serbian musical periodicals; Dragutin Čolić; Milenko Živković; Stana Đurić-Klajn; Pavao Markovac; Vojislav Vučković; „Музика“ (1928-1929); „Звук“ (1932-1936); „Музички гласник“ (1938- 1941); „Славенска музика“ (1939-1941).

Summary/Abstract: Between the two World Wars, in Belgrade and Serbia, seven musical journals were published: “Musical Gazette” (1922), “Music” (1928-1929), “Herald of the Musical Society Stanković” (1928-1934, 1938-1941; renamed to “Musical Herald” in january 1931), “Sound” (1932-1936), “Journal of The South Slav Choral Union” (1935-1936, 1938), “Slavic Music” (1939-1941) and “Music Review” (1940). The influence of marxism can be observed in “Musical Herald” (in the series from 1938), “Sound” and “Slavic Music”. A Marxist influence is obvious through indications of determinism. Namely, some writers (Dragutin Čolić) observed elements of musical art and its history as (indirect) consequences of sociopolitical and economic processes. Still, journals published articles of domestic and foreign authors who interpreted the relation between music, society and economy in a much more moderate and subtle manner (D.Cvetko, A.Schering). Editors and associates of these journals also had proscriptive ambitions - they recommended and even determined regulations for composers about what kind of music to write according to social goals and needs. According to tendencies in Marxism, there was a follow up of musical work in the Soviet Union. Editors tried not to be one-sided. There were writings about the USSR by left orientated associates as much as emigrants from that country, and articles of Soviet authors were translated. Also, there were critical tones about musical development in the first country of socialism. Serbian musical periodicals recognized the enormous threat from fascism. Also, there were articles about influence of Nazi ideology and dictatorship on musical prospects in Germany. Since Germany annexed Sudetenland in 1938, “Musical Herald” expressed support to musicians and people of that friendly country by devoting the October and November 1938 issue to Czechoslovak music, along with an appropriate introduction by the editor, Stana Đurić-Klajn.

  • Issue Year: 24/2013
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 212-235
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Serbian