Ljubica Marić (1909 - 2003) Serbia

Considered the most original and influential composer of her country in the 20th century. Born in Kragujevac, Serbia, to a family with historic roots, she was the first Serbian to earn a diploma in composition, in 1929. She continued her studies at the Prague State Conservatory with Josef Suk, and from a young age received international recognition at festivals in Amsterdam, Strasbourg, and Prague.

I'm sharing her Byzantine Concerto, with which she consolidated her distinctive style: the integration of elements of Byzantine music into a contemporary orchestral idiom. Needless to say, no score is available.

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Her international career was interrupted by World War II, but Marić continued composing in Belgrade, where she was also a professor at the Faculty of Music and a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. She pioneered the integration of Byzantine Orthodox music into non-liturgical compositions, combining medieval heritage with 20th-century avant-garde movements, positioning her as a precursor to figures such as Arvo Pärt and John Tavener. Her style is characterized by philosophical depth and clear, powerful expression.

I share with you Torzo, a piano trio inspired by medieval Serbian texts, which demonstrates her ability to combine historical resonances with a modern, abstract voice.

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In addition to music, she was interested in the visual arts and philosophical poetry. Toward the end of her life, her work was rediscovered and celebrated in important European musical centers, such as Amsterdam and Cologne. CDs of her works were published, and publishers such as Furore Verlag and Chandos distributed her music internationally.

I share with you her Study for Piano, you can see the score projected in the video.

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Recognized by figures such as Shostakovich, Bartók, and Lutosławski, Ljubica Marić left behind a musical legacy considered by many to be among the greatest creations of the 20th century. Finally, I share Songs of Space, considered by musicians such as Lutosławski, Jolivet, and especially Shostakovich, as "one of the most significant creations of the second half of the 20th century." Its success marked the beginning of a full creative phase in her career, marking a break with the restrictive aesthetics of socialist realism of the time. VERY 20th century.