macedon - RECONSTRUCTION OF MUSIC LIFE AND CULTURE IN ABSENCE OF ARTIFACTS, GRAPHICS AND WRITTEN MATERIALS

RECONSTRUCTION OF MUSIC LIFE AND CULTURE IN ABSENCE OF ARTIFACTS, GRAPHICS AND WRITTEN MATERIALS

Sunday, 5. August 2007, 12:44:24

At the beginning I would like to say that we will have a particularly interesting possibility to see how should be done the reconstruction of music life in absence of artifacts, graphics and written materials. In all history of Macedonia, there had been a couple of civilization changes, and all of them made huge influence at the condition of culture and art life. Although in the period of precising the methodology of work we made one more conclusion, that the historical continuity for music life and culture is missing. There are some periods for about hundred years where we don't have any primary sources for music culture. In this conditions of work the whole reconstruction of music life should be done with the next major fields:
♦Archeological documents: sculptures, relief plates, ceramics, pottery,
coins,
♦Historical documents: letters, annals, travels or expeditions diarys,
♦Liturgy materials with or without music signs,
♦Aural music tradition (city music),
♦Archives documents: (reports from the city councils, reports from the
schools, reports from the churches, reports from the music societys).
The firs step of this research should be started with the Ancient period. Music reflection in the Ancient period is connected with the Apolon and Dionis cult. The main ancient cities which are still activately discovering by the archeologist are Stobi (near Veles), Heraklea (near Bitola), and Lihnidos (Ohrid). There are remains ancient theatres in all three cities which had important cultural and educational meaning. Anyway the present archeological condition in Macedonia is modest, because the big part from the territory of Macedonian land is not enough discovered and surveyed. The main purpose should be with using comparative method to comprehend at what level music life were presented in the cultural live of the ancient people.

In the all Middle age very important role for music development had the political and economical condition. For example in the period of Justinijan I, or later in the period of Samuil kingdom, prevailed advantages conditions for music development. On the other side in the 12th and 13th century the Byzantine kingdom couple of times had political off balance, so the territory of Macedonia had been divided between different aggresors. Though the Bogomil movement in Macedonia in the period between X-XIV century had it own meaning because of their propagation folk music connected with the primeval tradition. The main sources for reconstruction of music life should be:
Historical documents: historical literature, letters, annals, travels or
expeditions diarys,
Church music which were presented in the orthodox temples,
Analysis of middle age art through art works created in the churches
like icons, frescos, or angravings,
Analysis of the folk songs transfered from one to the other
generation.

In the Ottoman period there had been changes in the culture and art life in Macedonia. As well the Slavonic literacy long time had been on very low level and had directly influence to the music literacy. Anyway in this period we could get evidently reconstruction of music life which should be having continuity from the beginning of the 18th century till the beginning of the 20th century. Thus should be support with the analysis of Turkish documents in ours and foreign archives institutions. That documents should afford new aweareness and knowledges for music life. In the 19th century with the new political forces of Young Turkish revolution, Macedonian culture condition had experienced new life which is a part from the culture and art rebirth. In the music life this is reflected with the new city music (western notation, factory tempering instruments), who showed the new atmosphere and new life of the Macedonian citizens. The main fields for reconstruction of music life in the period of Turkish empire should be:
Historical documents: historical literature, letters, annals, travels or
expeditions diarys,
Archives documents ( Macedonian Archives, Archives in Belgrade,
Sofia, Zagreb, Istanbul and others foreign cities).
Church singing and education in the orthodox churches,

City music.

The first four decades of the 20th century should be the most substantial area for reconstruction of music life:
Archives documents (documents from the Turkish period,
documents from the Bulgarian period, and documents form the
period of Jugoslavia kingdom).
Church documents (music scripts).
City music,
Private documents.
So far this explanation give as one deductive conclusion which bring as to one new question: what should be if this musical reconstruction is point at one city area in this case the city Veles. With this proposal we should have smaller area for researching and more inherent and continuity dates. In other words with this smaller researching area we will have more opportunities and more completely and essential facts through the reconstruction of music life and culture. Also we will have in mind the modest researching district at the territory of our country from the archeological, art and music occurence.

The researching at the territory of one town should be considerate the same main fields for reconstruction of music life at the territory of all country. Till now we have only general exposure of the problem. In the next explanation we will make one exception with mention the two concrete sources connected with the main subject. This is about two archeological subjects discovered by the archeologist Trajanka Jovchevska who work in the Museum in Veles.

N.1. Wind instrument-Neolith period, locality v. Chashka
Her main area for archeological research is the Neolith period. With everyday dedicated work she discovered two wind instruments who are from the Neolith period. The first one is discovered at the locality of village Chashka (near Veles). This instrument have circle shape with three resonant outles. Its made from clay and its all preservated.
The second instrument is uncover at the locality of village Izvor (near Veles), and it is not all save. This second instrument is made from bone material. From the melody reproduction the both instrument probably had special religions treatment with their use in the distinctive rituals. The two instruments are in the Museum in Veles in the Archeological department.

N.2. Wind instrument-Neolith period, v. Izvor
The main fields for reconstruction of music life in Veles should be:
1.Music life in the prevail period/comparative method,
2.Spiritual music: church singing, education,
3.Sity music:
Tamboura orchestra,
Amateur playing,
Chalgija, Choirs, Wind orchestra,

Archives documents (different kinds of reports or music sources).
5.Music education: Primary schools, Secondary schools, Private music
education,
6. Contemporary music life in the period of the first four decades at the 20th
century.
At the end of this text J will make one brief conclusion that with the reconstruction of music life we should obtain new image for our music life in addition with new sources from different areas: archeology, history, philosophy, art and music.

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