“The sense of my happiness must be as pure as inspiration. If such a feeling does not come, then I am losing.”
Svetozár Stračina
(3.12.1940 – 26.2.1996)
Slovak composer, collector of folk songs and arranger of their recordings, co-organizer of folk music festivals, author of compositions and arrangements in the field of music folklore, orchestral works, film and scene music and outstanding personality of folk culture movement in Slovakia
Already as a child, he was fascinated by the sound of musical instruments. This led him to the music school in Banská Bystrica and later on to the Conservatory and Comenius University in Bratislava. After graduating in composition and musical science, he began with scenic work for theatre, radio and television plays, pantomime and poetry programmes, whereby he was especially captured by avant-garde theatre scenes with signs of alternative production.
Very soon, he turned his attention to film music. He composed music for more than 150 film productions, including 78 feature films. In this field, he enjoyed to apply the so-called motif work, based on folklore features, using the sounds of various folk music instruments, such as fujara (Slovak shepherd’s pipe), fujara-trombita, pipes, cimbalom, jaw harp, bells, as well as instruments of foreign ethnic groups. In the 1960s, he started focusing his work primarily on folk genres, whereby he was strongly inspired by traditional folk songs and music. For Slovak folk ensembles (SĽUK, Lúčnica), he created numerous folk song arrangements, as well as original pieces for their choreographies and dances. Also remarkable were his collaboration with prestigious folk music festivals in Slovakia and unique folk music arrangements and compositions, he prepared for radio broadcasting. The highlight of his musical creation are commissioned works, composed after the launch of the international radio competition Prix de Musique Folklorique de Radio Bratislava (1970) and awarded with 10 prizes, what ranks Stračina among the most awarded composers in the history of this competition. His work uniquely blends respect for tradition and authentic instruments with a modern artistic vision, sensitively utilising sound effects, mixing and transformation techniques or electroacoustic elements in active cooperation with the Experimental Studio. He thus brought a specific trend in approach to folk music, which is often called “Stračina style”.
After the interruption of Prix de Musique Folklorique in 1993, the competition was revived as a tribute to Svetozár Stračina by the Slovak Radio under the auspices of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and proudly carries his name since 2003.
Recording: A pred tých Kankov, recording for the first edition of Prix de Musique Folklorique de Radio Bratislava 1970, where it won 1st place. Performers: Girls’ Singing Group FS MARÍNA / FARKAŠ Viliam; Author: Svetozár Stračina, in-house studio production, 1970.