The legacy of Yugoslav composer Josip Slavenski, of Croatian origin, was inaugurated on December 8, 1983, in an apartment on the fifth floor of the building at Nikola Pašić Square No. 1. This carefully preserved space houses his workroom, which was relocated from 33 Svetosavska Street, where Slavenski lived and composed until his passing in 1955. Immersed in vibrant Balkan ethnographic décor, the legacy features his personal belongings, original manuscripts, piano, an array of instruments, letters, a rich library, sheet music archives, and a collection of photographs that offer a glimpse into his creative world.
We had the opportunity to explore the legacy of Josip Slavenski, a composer renowned for drawing inspiration from the rich musical folklore of various Balkan nations. The vibrant spirit of the Balkans is reflected not only in his music but also in the décor of the space: hand-painted Pirot rugs, Bosnian tables from Konjic, rustic wooden chairs from Montenegro, and a fascinating array of traditional folk instruments.
The extensive library is a true treasure trove, boasting 3,360 items. Among these are 1,271 musical compositions, 822 books, hundreds of vinyl records, magnetic tapes, and over a thousand letters. The collection is far from limited to music—it spans a wide range of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, astronomy, and linguistics. Biographies of famous composers fill the shelves, alongside a rare collection of dictionaries, which reveal that Slavenski corresponded with friends in an impressive eleven different languages.
At the heart of this remarkable space is a concert hall with seating for around seventy people, offering a unique and intimate venue for performances, a perfect homage to Slavenski’s legacy and his passion for the blending of diverse cultural influences.
Concert Section of the Slavenski Legacy
In recognition of his contributions to music, the music school affiliated with the Academy of Music in Belgrade was named Josip Slavenski Music School (MŠ Josip Slavenski).
A comprehensive biography of Josip Slavenski, titled simply JOSIP, was authored by his wife, Milana Slavenski, offering a personal and detailed account of the composer’s life and legacy.
PERSONAL STORY
Josip Štolcer Slavenski was born on May 11, 1896, in Čakovec (modern-day Croatia), as the eldest child of village musician Josip Štolcer and Julija Novak. Although he initially completed a baker's apprenticeship, in 1913 he began attending music academies in Budapest and later in Prague, where he honed his musical education and developed his unique style, deeply rooted in the folk traditions of the Balkans.
The guitar and Pirot rugs are integral parts of the permanent exhibition at the Slavenski Legacy.
After returning to Čakovec following World War I, he increasingly began signing his name as "Slavenski," influenced by the ideas of pan-Slavism and "Balkanophilia." This surname was officially legalized in 1930.
From 1924 onwards, he lived between Paris and Belgrade, where he began teaching at the Music School (now known as “Mokranjac”) and at the Second Men's Gymnasium. During this period, he composed some of his most significant works, including Balkanofonija, which premiered in 1928 in Belgrade and subsequently in Berlin, being performed an impressive eighty-three times around the world over the following decade.
Personal Belongings of Josip Slavenski
In 1934, Slavenski composed the cantata Religiofonija (Symphony of the Orient), but his publishing house rejected the work in 1935, during the rise of Nazism and fascism in Europe, as music associated with Jews and Buddhists was no longer well-received. From 1945, he worked as an associate professor, and from 1949 as a full professor at the Academy of Music in Belgrade. He passed away on November 30, 1955, in Belgrade.
We organized our visit to the Slavenski Legacy together with the students of the Josip Slavenski Music School.
Teacher Maja Keskinov with Students of Josip Slavenski Music School
