From communism to capitalism via the wars: The landscape of Serbian music 1985-2005

Abstract

Two related processes were taking place in ex-Yugoslavia during the chosen period: 1) The transition from communism to capitalism, and 2) unsuccessful dealing with the political/economical crisis that led to the wars in the 1990s, both followed by the necessity to face the outcome and establish new identities. Although those eventful and tragic two decades have deeply shaken Serbian society, the art music production has not mirrored them in ways that might have been expected. Whereas pacifistic and oppositional political ideas were openly voiced in the public life, the majority of composers wished to distance themselves from explicit engagement in their works. That was probably due to the mistrust that art music, whose influence has always been very limited in the country, could make a strong impact on the political events.

Keywords

• Serbian art music
• music and war
• music and politics
• transition in Serbia