City Songs

At the end of the 19th century, after the departure of the Turks who had occupied the Balkans for 600 years, an urban life began to develop in Serbia, and with it the emergence of a new bourgeoisie. It became primordial to be more like the western world both in political and daily life. A new musical form quickly became the mode in private salons and restaurants- city songs- which moved away from typical peasant and warrior themes. Rather, love became central to these sentimental songs, which used tonal harmonies instead of the modal ones used in the typical folk music. These songs showed the development of an urban Serbia. Each movement of my composition City Songs is inspired by one of these songs.

I. Da smo se ranije sreli
II. Sojcice, devojcice
III. Tiho noci
IV. Igrale se delije
V. Bolujem ja
VI. Imam jednu želju