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Macedonia has an exceptionally rich musical heritage. The
numerous studies, among which we can single out the most recent work by Sotir
Golabovski, Octoechos, on the tradition of Macedonian spiritual and church
singing, are a significant contributiojn to Macedonian and Balkan cultural
history.
The Composer's Association of Macedonia today has 60
composers as members. After the founding generation of modern Maceodnian
classical music, consisting of Trajko prokopiev, Todor Skalovski, Stefan Gajdov
and Zivko Firfov, came the work of Kiril Makedonski, Gligor Smokvarski,
Vlastimir Nikolovski, Toma Prosev, Tomislav Zografski, Mihailo Nikolovski,
Ljubomir Brangolica and Risto Avramovski.
The Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, established in
1944, is the oldest cultural institution in the field of music. There are also
six active chamber and other music ensembles, three professional and about
twenty amateur choirs. The richness of Macedonian folklore and songs is
represented by the professional ensemble 'Tanec', and there are ten other
folklore ensembles which are active on a semi-professional basis. Each year
about 50,000 people attend the concerts of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra
and the various folk dance ensembles and other cultural and artistic
associations.
In addition to the concerts held as part of the Ohrid
Summer Festival, an annual festival of classical music named Interfest was
established in Bitola a few years ago.
Folk music is one of the most cherished areas of
Macedonian culture, and several folk festivals take place each year. The oldest
is Folkfest, held in Valandovo, and it is interesting to note that most
festivals have further showings among Macedonian expatriates in Australia and
Canada. The Festival of Old Town Songs in Ohrid and the Ilinden Days of Folk
Song in Bitola are events which nourish traditional Macedonian songs.
Mak-Fest in Stip and the Skopje Festival are the two
best-known festivals of popular music in Macedonia.
The pop group 'Leb i Sol', with its original music which
uses traditional folk themes and rhythms, has been active for over twenty
years and become widely known beyond the frontiers of Macedonia. |
