Traditional Vocal Music as a Reference in Contemporary Serbian Art Song

The article examines the relation between traditional vocal music and contemporary compositional poetics in Serbian art song, created in the last two decades. The special relationship between the “eastern” Balkans inheritance and “western” compositional practices which characterized Serbian music throughout the 20th century is considered in a contemporary, post-modern context and within a particular genre framework. The status of the reference itself, as well as of referential relationships, are examined through examples taken from three works: Dve tužbalice (1997) for soprano, viola and piano by Đuro Živković (1975), Da su meni oči tvoje (2008) for soprano, flute and piano by Ivan Brkljačić (1977) and Rukoveti (2000) for soprano and orchestra by Isidora Žebeljan (1967).