Folk Art

Item details

Description +
- Duration: 15 min.
  
  The piece Folk art is a result of the collaboration between me and my father, one of the most prominent Croatian composers. The starting point was my solo marimba piece Tafate which inspired my father to add a string quartet or a small string ensemble. His idea was to emphasize the chameleon features of the marimba (lyrical, dramatic, playful, singing, percussive and many more…) by giving the strings a very percussive character in the piece. Except for the middle section, just before the marimba cadenza, were solo strings display a beautiful lullaby like melody.
  
  The ending is a humorous and rhythmical play between the two.
Instrumentation +
- Marimba and String Quartet
About the composer +
- IGOR KULJERIĆ (Šibenik, 1938.-Zagreb, 2006.) is one of the most important Croatian composers. He graduated in composition from the Zagreb Academy of Music. After receiving a grant from the Italian government he studied opera repertoire at La Scala in Milan. He also took part in the experimental musical activities of the Studio di fonologia musicale at RAI along with Luigi Nono and other important figures of music avantgarde.
  
  Kuljerić studied conducting with Igor Markevitch in Monte Carlo and debuted during the Northamerican tour of the Zagreb soloists. As conductor, he was appointed in the Opera of the Croatian National Theater and has regularly appeared with the Symphony orchestra and Choir of the Croatian radiotelevision. His guest appearences include international festivals and tours in the US, Russia, Israel, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Austria. Kuljerić premiered many works by other composers and regularly recorded for radio, television and movies.
  
  His most important student works are SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS, CONCERT OVERTURE, CONCERTO FOR FRENCH HORN AND ORCHESTRA, and I and II BALLET SUITES.
  
  After graduation Kuljerić joined the avant-garde movement, his music sometimes reaching the limits of experiment. The works from that period include FIGURAZIONI CON TROMBA, SOLO-TUTTI, BALLADS OF PETRICA KEREMPUH, FOLK ART tape music, LES ECHOS I and II.
  
  In the beginning of the '80s, he started to search for a more personal musical language, incorporating the tradition and the positive experiences of musical avant-garde. These features are present in his symphonic works RISUONO DI GAVOTTA and CHORAL OVERTURE, the collection ALLELUIA, PATER NOSTER and DIES IRAE for piano trio, CHOPIN OP.17 NO 4 for flute and vibes, WALTZ G9-D9 for chamber ensemble, solo concerti CONCERTPIECE, CONCERTO FOR IVANA, POP CONCERTO and BAROCCHIANA, ballet RIKY LEVI, with a later orchestra suite version, FIVE MOVEMENTS FROM THE BALLET RIKY LEVI and his last work BEL KAMEN KAMPANELA.
  
  A special part of Kuljerić's opus refers to his Croatian roots with influences from the glagolitic religious practice and historical artistic practice (Renaissance poetry and Baroque music) and can be found in the choral works QUAM PULCHRA ES (OMMAGGIO A LUKAČIĆ), SEA, CROSS GIVE US MERCY, KANCONIJER, also in the string quartet SONG, just to be powerfully sublimed in his monolithic key works CROATIAN GLAGOLITIC REQUIEM and CROATIAN MASS.
  
  He is the author of three operas: THE POWER OF VIRTUE, RICHARD III, ANIMAL FARM, CATHERINE OF ZRIN, his last opera, remained unfinished.
  
  Kuljeric composed music for theater productions, movie soundtracks, crossover projects and was a particularly prolific arranger. He is the recipient of all the major Croatian awards and the UNESCO Award.
  
  He was the artistic director of the MBZ, Concert Hall V. Lisinski, Dubrovnik Summer Festival (music program), Lovro Matačić Competition for Young Conductors and many more. He was the member of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Credits +
- Front Cover artist: Nikola Krbanjević
  Photo: Claudia Hansen
  Engraving: Vanja Kuljerić
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

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