International Music Resources by Country: Serbia

Citation (1)

Between Worlds [Streaming Audio]. (2007). Clear Note. (2007). Retrieved from Music Online: Classical Music Library database. 

The Republic of Serbia is situated in the central Balkan Peninsula, in South-Eastern Europe, and is landlocked. There are western borders (from south to north) with Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia, and borders with Hungary to the north, Romania and Bulgaria to the east, and North Macedonia to the south.The climate is continental, with steady rainfall throughout the year. The average summer temperature in Belgrade is 22°C (71°F), and in winter the average temperature is 0°C (32°F). The average annual rainfall is 635 mm (25 ins) in Belgrade.The official language is Serbian, which is officially written in the Cyrillic script.The capital and largest city is Beograd (Belgrade), which had an estimated population of 1,690,193 at mid-2018. Vojvodina had an estimated population of 1,861,863 in mid-2018; its capital is Novi Sad, which had 358,572 inhabitants. Other important towns in Serbia include Niš (with a population of 256,381), Kragujevac (177,383), Subotica (137,173) and Leskovac (135,591). The principal religion in Serbia is Orthodox Christianity, as represented by the Serbian Orthodox Church. There are followers of other Orthodox rites, some Roman Catholics (in Vojvodina and among the Albanian and Croat minorities) and a few Protestants. Islam is the religion of a significant minority, but it is concentrated in the south of the country, among Bosniaks and most of the Albanian population. There is a small Jewish community.Under the terms of the Constitution, which officially entered into effect on 8 November 2006, legislative power is vested in the 250-member Narodna Skupština Republike Srbije (People’s Assembly of the Republic of Serbia), which is directly elected for a period of four years. The President of the Republic, who is directly elected for a term of five years, nominates the Prime Minister for approval by the People's Assembly.

Citation (2 and 3)

Modern and Contemporary Music

"Owing to its geographic position, Serbia has been influenced by East and West throughout its history. After World War II, Serbia was a part of Yugoslavia. Its popular music was shaped by international trends as well as by domestic and foreign policies of the ruling communist party of Yugoslavia. After the separation from Stalin (1948), Yugoslavia, ruled by communists, remained outside of both the Eastern and Western blocs and became a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement. Yugoslavia turned to Western influences for the development of its popular music culture. During the following decades, these influences are seen in different genres: pop and rock music, jazz, new hybrid genres (i.e., newly composed folk music), as well as contemporary art music."

Citation (4)

Origin

"Serbia’s territory, status, ethnic, and social profiles changed frequently throughout the ages, which resulted in a dynamic cultural history, including music. It is marked by the interactions of the heritage of pre-Slavic Balkans, Serbian Slavic peoples, and the numerous cultures that they encountered throughout their history, including not only the cultures of the great conquerors—the Ottoman Empire and Austria–Hungary—but also of many minorities. Geographical features of the region have contributed to the differentiation of musical dialects. The musical mosaic consists of traditional music of different peoples, religious music ranging from pagan rituals to liturgical music—especially of the Orthodox Church but also of other represented religions—as well as local art music and sonic products of urban and popular cultures."

Citation (5)