MUSICA ANTIQUA CONSORT

(1977.) BELGRADE

"In my Opinion every human beings in itself the affection towards truly artistic experience, and we are trying to afford it"

Vera Zlokovich

In February 1977. Vera Zlokovich, composer and conductor with university degrees, has created and founded "Musica Antiqua Consort" - first professional early music ensemble in our country; with the aim of thorough researching and professional interpreting. This time travelling discoveries followed by joy and pleasure has revived an old, almost forgotten world of music. A group of young curious people guded by Vera Zlokovich, plunged with an archaologist's devotion into the sound garden of the Middle Ages, wandering through the halls of churches and courts, along the trails of renaissance towns... Seeking new discoveries and knowledge pushed them forward; each of their concerts, and there were more than 2000, was different, enriched with newly found pieces, first time on their repertoire. This has naturally led to improving the quality of both vocal and instrumental performing.

 

Devoted to the idea of faithful reconstruction of the old sound of various epoches Vera Zlokovich was the first one to introduce a countertenor registre - a special kind of high tenor voice - in Serbia, in the Balkans, in Eastern Europe. The unique and always good tenors and countertenors (one or more, depending on the program). The authentic and original sound of this ensemble is based, beside this male voices, on the carefully shaped female voices, particuraly the beautiful, balanced Vera Zlokovich's mezzo-soprano; trained at the best European master schools for early music by the significant professors (exp. Andrea von Ramm), followers of the David Monroe, Alfred Deller, Nigel Rogers, Jean Belliard, James Grifit. Vera Zlokovich conveys her well mastered vocal technique to her associates, and has gaines a flexible and extremely suggestive interpretation.

There are many new aspects in the appearance of "Musica Antiqua" not only by SCG but international standards as well. All the time, all around Europe from Spain to Grusia, Vera Zlokovich is looking for still unknown jewels of the old sound. Numerous pices, especially of SCG authors have been in this way rediscovered.

Authentic performing the stylistically divergent repertoire took Vera Zlokovich almost two and a half decades of teaching. The ensemble has become a green-house of the old sound cherishing the best artists. A young professional singer (with classical music education, university degrees) requires complete attention and great effort to be turned professional of a special kind and master the voluminous program (from Ars Antiqua, Ars Nova, Spanish and English monody, Gregorian choral, Notre Dame school, Meistersingers, Troubadurs, Trouvers, up to the renaissance and Baroque). The old music needs an entirely different vocal technique various from that learned today. During this unselfish and successful work Vera Zlokovich trainded over one hundred young musicians. Many of them are now totally dedicated to this music. Some of the best has been accepted at admirable master schools of London, Paris, Basel, Frankfurt... at final year. This little academy of sound has overcome the original intention - to prepare members of the ensemble. It has become an institution for cherishing the old sound.

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts innidiately recognized the importance of appearance of "Musica Antiqua". Many of the members are their admirers, specially Stanojlo Rajichich who arranged their numerous concerts at the Gallery of SANU. Also some of the institutes (Byzantine, of Musicology, History, Archaology) called them. The ensemble was one of the participants and guests at "The multidisciplinary Evenings" at SANU, organized by Dr. Dragutin Gostushki.

The international popularity of this artistic branch has provided "Musica Antiqua" with various relationships with relevant experts and institutions. The first and maybe the most important of this contacts is the already mentioned Vera Zlokovich's education. The result is "Musica Antiqua"'s level of quality equal to that of internationally recognized ensembles. CUltural emissaries of Sweden, Great Britain, France, Italy, Portugal are observing and countenancing "Musica Antiqua" giving it oppotunity to prosper and contact their experts on old music.

The ensemble performed at famous music halls, churches and castles in Bruges, Dresden, Berlin, Leipcig, Potsdam, Rostok, Munich, Venice, Dubrovnik, Kastoria, Nice. The ensemble was awarded at BEMUS in Belgrade and at the TV Festivales in Montreal and Portoroze, three years in a row it declared best at the "St. Donatus Evenings" in Zadar, it achieved a notable success in Belgium and at Dresden Summer Festival. It won the prestigous title of the best at Ochrid Summer Festival and its preformances achieved great success at Dubrovnik SUmmer Festival, Festival in Kastoria and the TV Festival "Golden Prague". The ensemble is present at TV-program and satellite broadcasts.

At last the "Musica ANtiqua"'s reputation has brought successful careers to those its members who has gone abroad. Grujica Paunovich (tenor) a solo-singer in Zurich radio-choir, has founded choir for sacred music interpreting chamber baroque pieces. Zoran Todorovich (countertenor) has successful career in Frankfurt, he sings in baroque an renaissance operas. Predrag Djokovich was immediately accepted at the Royal Academy of Early Music (Great Britain) as postgraduate student, with professor Anthony Rooley and in Dartington with Emma Kirkby and James Bouman. Zarko Stojiljkovich (countertenor) is a solosinger in the Goetherborg opera. Branislav Rakich (tenor and countertenor) was accepted at final year at the Early music Academy in Paris. Mirko Vuletich (countertenor) has founded his own chamber ensemble "Royal Consort" in Bonn. Nikola Radan, our best performer at wind instruments, has founded a school of early music in New York, besides his solo-concerts all over the USA. Petar Kodzas has got academy degrees for guitar and lute in Chicago and has founded his own school. Slobodan Vujisich graduated guitar and continuous-wired instruments in Chicago.

Ten years after the beginning of "Musica Antiqua" Vera Zlokovich has created another ensemble, "Musica Antiqua Serbiana". The leading idea has been a pioneer research work - performing old liturgical chants of all Orthodox peoples (Byzantines, Greco-Byzantines, Serbs, Bulgarians, Russians, Moldavians, Walachians...). The two ensembles have parallel careers. Vera Zlokovich has special affection for Secred music: "We always keep in mind that the sacred music, like an ornament of the holy words, springs from enlightened souls, with prayers of God's apostoles. According to angels' principles the prayer should be sung with love, peacfully, tranquilly, but its strength lies in faith." (1994. an interview after the concert at the national museum). Joining this spiritual experience and music "Musica Antiqua Serbiana" has established a new sound characteristic of their original interpretation.

 

Ana Matovich, musicologist
Institute of Musicology SANU
(Serbian Academy of Science and Art)