6th “Horizons on the Tisa” – Days of Josif Marinković 1998: Composers’ Competition Dedicated to Hilandar

May 24–25, 1998
Invitational Composers’ Competition

After the first invitational composers’ competition on the theme Bread, Grain, Harvest, which resulted in 14 new solo songs, the organizers of this year’s Days of Josif Marinković decided that the new theme would be Hilandar, as 1998 marked the 800th anniversary of this Serbian sanctuary.

Unlike the previous competition, which had a competitive character, this time it was decided that all submitted compositions would be purchased. Funding was provided by the general sponsor, AD “Polet” IGK from Novi Bečej.

In order to encourage young composers (under 32 years of age) and motivate them to create, the organizers announced a special invitational competition for this category of authors, which did have a competitive character.

Opening of the Event

By tradition, “Horizons on the Tisa” opened with a commemorative address about Josif Marinković delivered by composer Konstantin Babić. After the speech, a concert was held by the String Orchestra of the School for Musical Talents from Ćuprija.

The students, under the direction of Jelena Jovanović, performed transcriptions of the following compositions:
Oj meseče by Josif Marinković, Podibarski žal by Svetislav Božić, Perpetuum mobile by Konstantin Babić, as well as Pachelbel’s Canon and Kreisler’s Beautiful Rosemary.

Premieres of the Competition Compositions

On the second day of the event, a concert was held featuring ten purchased compositions and three solo songs by awarded young composers. To ensure the highest quality of the concert evening, actress Ljiljana Blagojević was engaged as the host.

The premiere performances were presented in the following order:

1. Konstantin Babić: Zapis
   Text: Đoko Stojičić — The Swallow’s Nest on the Fresco of Hilandar
   Performance: Miodrag Jovanović, baritone
2. Dimitrije O. Golemović: Bread
   Text: Dragan Filipović
   Performance: Živojin Ćirić, baritone
3. Dejan Despić: Reformer
   Text: Milorad Mitrović
   Performance: Živojin Ćirić, baritone
4. Mirjana Živković: Two Sad Songs
   Text: Maja Živković
   Performance: Violeta Srećković, mezzo-soprano
5. Svetozar Saša Kovačević: Hourglass
   Text: Danijela Jovanović
   Performance: Violeta Srećković, mezzo-soprano
6. Nikola Petin: The Poet and the Muse
   Text: Aleksandar Blok
   Performance: Nikola David, tenor
7. Vera Milanković: Prayer
   Text: Tanasije Mladenović
   Performance: Violeta Srećković, mezzo-soprano
8. Stanojlo Rajičić: 1914
   Text: Ivo Andrić
   Performance: Živojin Ćirić, baritone
9. Milana Stojadinović–Milić: Longing
   Text: Desanka Maksimović
   Performance: Violeta Srećković, mezzo-soprano
10. Zoran Hristić: Like a Prayer
    Text: Ivan V. Lalić
    Performance: Ljudmila Gros, soprano

Competition for Young Composers

Seven young composers participated in the competition, submitting solo songs that had not been previously performed.

The jury — composed of Miroslav Štatkić, Konstantin Babić, and Dimitrije O. Golemović — reviewed the scores and decided to award three composers.

• First Prize (2,000 dinars) — Ljubomir Nikolić (1976), student of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, class of Prof. Miroslav Štatkić, for the composition The Triumph of Venus (text by Svetislav Stefanović).
  Performance: Danijela Jovanović, soprano.
• Second Prize (1,500 dinars) — Dragana Petrov (1975) from Zrenjanin, student of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, for the composition Đulići (text by Jovan Jovanović Zmaj).
  Performance: Nikola David, tenor.
• Third Prize (1,000 dinars) — Milorad Marinković (1976), student of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, class of Prof. Rajko Maksimović, for the composition The Flute (text by Momčilo Nastasijević).
  Performance: Živojin Ćirić, baritone.

Exhibition of Old Posters

As part of the accompanying program, the Public Library of Novi Bečej, using materials from its collection, organized a thematic exhibition in the “Selo” Gallery.

The exhibition presented old posters of film screenings, theater performances, entertainment evenings, air shows, and sports events, all testifying to the rich cultural and sports heritage — especially the theatrical life — of Vranjevo and Novi Bečej.

Author of the exhibition: Verica Mesaroš, Director of the Public Library.

Awarded Compositions by Young Authors

1. Ljubomir Nikolić: The Triumph of Venus
   Text: Svetislav Stefanović
   Performance: Danijela Jovanović, soprano
2. Dragana Petrov: Đulići
   Text: Jovan Jovanović Zmaj
   Performance: Nikola David, tenor
3. Milorad Marinković: The Flute
   Text: Momčilo Nastasijević
   Performance: Živojin Ćirić, baritone