Who is The Refugee by the Cradle? Some Thoughts about the Song by Anton Lajovic

Abstract

The present article opens some new questions about Begunka pri zibeli [The Refugee by the Cradle], one of Anton Lajovic’s best and most expressive songs for voice and piano, which was also connected with the historical events by the Soča/Isonzo front in the First World War. Special attention is given to the original literary text by Oton Župančič. His allusions to the painting of the Virgin Mary from the place of pilgrimage Sveta gora near Gorica/Gorizia, which also shared the refugee’s fate, could bring new insights into the identity of the “refugee by the cradle”.

Keywords

• anton lajovic, oton župančič, begunka pri zibeli [the refugee by the cradle], song, the first world war