Prepared by: Milojko Božović / Cover photo: Pixabay, Ralf1403
Do we know who wrote our famous folk songs, beloved kafana hits and anthem-like refrains with national themes? Who wrote, and when, “Kad sam bio mlađan lovac ja”, “Mito bekrijo”, “Jutros mi je ruža procvetala”, “Ovo je Srbija”, “Niška Banja” and many others?
For many of these songs we are convinced, much like with epic poetry, that they sprang anonymously from the people. Yet that is not the case. There are guardians of Serbian cultural heritage, experts in musical tradition, who reveal to us the true authors behind the jewels of our rich legacy.
One of them is Dragana Marinković, editor of the cult one-hour programme “Od zlata jabuka” on Radio Belgrade 2, broadcast every weekday at 11 a.m. For Kaleidoskop Media she has selected ten well-known folk songs, describing their origins and their authors. At the end of this unique soundtrack, as a bonus track, comes “Niška Banja”, about which Bilja Krstić writes. She, too, long believed it to be an original folk song by an unknown author.
Dragana Marinković’s Selection
“Sećaš li se onog sata”
The song “Spomen”, also known as “Sećaš li se onog sata”, was extremely popular in its time. It is mentioned in the works of Bogoboj Atanacković, Jakov Ignjatović, Stevan Sremac and Milovan Glišić. It is still gladly sung today, as visitors to Skadarlija know well.
It has been translated into German and Hungarian. It found its place in numerous songbooks and collections of Serbian folk lyrics, and in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries it was included in several anthologies. The author of the lyrics was Spiridon Jović.
“Kad sam bio mlađan lovac ja”
Marko Nešić, born in 1873 in the plains of Vojvodina that breathe so distinctively through his songs, was a renowned tamburica player and composer. He wrote some of the best-known songs that are today classified as old urban songs. Among the most famous are “Kad sam bio mlađan lovac ja”, “Idem kući, a već zora” and many others.
“Dodirni rukom žice”
Milan Kujundžić Aberdar was a poet, philosopher, professor, Minister of Education of Serbia, President of the National Assembly of Serbia, diplomat, academic and benefactor.
He introduced structured pedagogical work, founded schools for girls and raised the Seminary to the level of a higher educational institution. His love poetry is marked by particular tenderness and vivid imagery.
He published two poetry collections under the title Aberdar, which he also used as his pseudonym. We know who wrote the lyrics for “Dodirni rukom žice”, but we do not know who was inspired to compose its music.
“Mito bekrijo”
We highlight Radoslav Graić, long-time editor at Television Belgrade and a composer whose pen produced songs that became popular and indispensable in numerous radio and television programmes and concerts.
His urban songs include “Nema starog Beograda”, “Eh lane, moje lane” and others.
His folk songs include “Mito bekrijo”, “Stani, stani zoro”, “Doleteće beli golub” and others.
“Krčma u planini”
A song that was popular throughout the former Yugoslavia. Back in 1968, Miroslav Čonkić wrote the lyrics about a beautiful Mara, the daughter of an old innkeeper. She inspired the well-known performer Nedeljko Bilkić to compose the music. The legendary Radojka Živković created the arrangement.
“Krčma u planini” was sung in every situation, whether in sorrow or in joy, because everyone found their own Mara within it.
“Sve behara i sve cveta”
Zaim Imamović recorded a large number of songs, mostly sevdalinka. Alongside sevdalinka, he also worked on newly composed songs modelled on old traditional ones. He was often the author of both the music and lyrics of his songs.
The lyrics for “Sve behara i sve cveta” were written by Nikola Škrba, and the music was composed by Zaim Imamović.
“Jutros mi je ruža procvetala”
Petar Tanasijević left behind an impressive number of composed songs which many believe to be genuine traditional folk songs. These compositions found their place on more than 12 million records sold, interpreted by various performers.
He wrote his first song in 1952, and his compositions were included among the 50 best songs of the twentieth century. Among them are “Godine su prolazile” and “Jutros mi je ruža procvetala”.
“Ej dragi, dragi božurove sadi”
The folk song “Kosovski božuri”, also known as “Usnila je dubok sanak” or “Ej dragi, dragi”, was sung shortly after the Battle of Kosovo and is not merely part of our distant heritage and history. To this day it carries a powerful and timeless message across the world. It is an example of how a folk song becomes part of our tradition and, in this case, even of our history.
Yet it was not so long ago that the song under its original title “Ej dragi, dragi božurove sadi” was written by Dragan Nikolić, a tamburica player from Pančevo.
It was first performed at the Folk Music Festival in Bijeljina in 1997, where it won first prize by decision of the professional jury. It was sung by Jordan Nikolić, who brought it enduring popularity.
“Zapevajte pesme stare”
Branislav Rakić, long-time editor of the chess column and deputy and assistant editor-in-chief of Politika Ekspres, was one of the finest lyricists in the former Yugoslavia.
One day Petar Sam, head of the renowned Plavi ansambl, asked him to write lyrics to a melody he had composed for a song that was to be performed by Predrag Cune Gojković.
Thus the song “Zapevajte pesme stare” was created.
“Ovo je Srbija”
The song “Ovo je Srbija”, which we so often hear today, is included in music education textbooks. Evenings in Skadarlija can no longer be imagined without the notes of this composition.
It is of more recent date, and its author is Nikola Grbić.
Bilja Krstić on the song “Niška Banja”
For a long time I was convinced that the song “Niška Banja” was traditional, deeply rooted in collective memory. However, it does in fact have an author, the renowned actor Dušan Cvetković. Interestingly, according to some interpretations, only the first verse remains the same as in the version we have listened to for decades, while the melody in the original notation is somewhat different.
I had the special privilege of receiving from Uncle Duca’s granddaughter the original lyrics of the song, together with the handwritten musical score. I keep that document with great care and respect. It further encouraged me to begin collecting his other beautiful songs, with the wish to record and preserve them as a small token of gratitude to this great artist and actor.
This report is part of the project Serbian Culture in the Focus of UNESCO, through which the Kaleidoskop Cultural Center marks the 850th anniversary of the birth of Saint Sava and, at UNESCO’s invitation, joins the global celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention on Cultural Diversity.
The project is co-funded by the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications. The views expressed in this supported media project do not necessarily reflect those of the institution that provided the funding.
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