Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/yq32oh8e89
LJUDEVIT GAJ AND MUSIC
Vjera Katalinić
orcid.org/0000-0001-7230-7990
Abstract
The musical merits of Ljudevit Gaj (1809-1872) have already been discussed
and referred to, concerning primarily his participation in the creation of the songs,
most widely known as budnice and davorije (rousing songs of lyric and more
militant type). Among them the most popular was the Horvatov sloga i zjenjenje
[The unanimity and unification of Croats], better known under its textual incipit
“Još Hrvatska nij’ propala” [Croatia has not fallen yet], the origin and the context
of its spread was meticulously presented by the historian Nikša Stančić. However,
almost all information on the topic “Gaj and music” originates from the writings
of the musicologist and ethnomusicologist Franjo Ksaver Kuhač (1814-1911), who
placed him among the so-called Illyrian musicians, and dedicated many lines to
him published in books/booklets and newspaper articles. Among them are Gaj's
often cited ideas about what “national” music should be like, which, within the
overall view of Gaj's (“musical”) activities, is also the topic of this paper. Further,
Gaj's cultural involvement also influenced Zagreb's opera impresarios, such as Heinrich
Börnstein, and besides the composer Ferdo Livadić, he was also in contact
with other contemporary composers, such as Dragutin von Turanyi. The paper is
articulated in four sections in which information is provided about Ljudevit Gaj's
relationship to (musical) theatre, about his collaboration with some Croatian composers,
about the relationship between Gaj and Franjo Ksaver Kuhač – either directly
or mediated by Ferdo Livadić – and, finally, about Ljudevit Gaj and music. Gaj's
ideas on music might point to what extent was he himself trained in music, but
also to the role of music in his milieu and his views on music as art, figuring as the
concluding part of this work.
Keywords
Ljudevit Gaj; music; Franjo Ksaver Kuhač; Ferdo Livadić; national in music.
Hrčak ID:
312846
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2023.
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