Biography

He was born in Negotin. From the birthplace of his parents he drew the second last name Mokranjac (literally: resident of Mokranje).

He graduated from the Belgrade gymnasium, and attended the natural science and mathematics section of the Belgrade higher school (contemporary equivalent of a college). In 1879 he traveled to Munich where he studied music in the class of Josef Rheinberger. After a brief break, he continues to study in Rome in the class of Parizzoti, in 1884. Returning to Serbia in 1884 he briefly becomes the conductor of the Kornelije Stanković choir of Belgrade.

From 1885 to 1887 he studies music in Leipzig, Germany. Upon his return to Serbia in 1887 he becomes the conductor for the Belgrade singing society (Belgrade Choir). From 1887 to 1900 he teaches music at the Belgrade gymnasium, and in 1901 transfers to Bogoslovija (Belgrade Divinity College) where he teaches church singing. Together with Stanislav Binički and Cvetko Manojlović, Mokranjac founds the first independent music school in 1899 - Serbian Music School in Belgrade. He remains the director of this school until his death. Today the school bears his name. His work as a melograph bore many transcriptions of thus far unwritten folk songs.

Stevan Mokranjac died in Skopje, Macedonia (then Kingdom of Serbia), aged 58.

Every year, the town of Negotin organizes a music festival in his honor called Mokranjčevi dani (Days of Mokranjac). The town also has a Mokranjac museum.

Works

Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac on 50 Serbian dinars banknote

His life was highly influenced by church and folk songs, and he used these two types of music as inspiration for his work. His most famous pieces are Rukoveti (literally: Works of hand) - collections of songs and music based on motives of Serbian folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia Proper, Montenegro, Kosovo and Metohija, Macedonia and Bulgaria. There are 15 Rukoveti, and the 10th one is considered the most beautiful. His other prominent folk-based works include Primorski napevi (Coastal songs), and Kozar.

A significant number of his works was made for church services. Such are the Božanstvena Liturgija Svetog Jovana Zlatoustog (The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom), from which the Heruvimska pesma (Cherubic Hymn) is most famous. Another two famous religious pieces are Tebe Boga hvalim (We praise thee, God) and Veličanje Sv. Savi (Glory to St. Sava). It is important to note, that most of his sacred music is not really original work - he wrote the choral arrangements based on traditional Serbian melodies, which are still sung in unison in churches which don't have a choir.

Hajduk Veljko Petrović (ca.1780-1813) was the Duke (Vojvoda in Serbian) of the First Serbian Uprising rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. He was born in Lenovac near Zajecar.

In his youth Veljko Petrovic was a shepherd and a servant. As a young man of 22, he defended his sister from an attack by two Turks, killed them both, and joined the hajduks. At first he travelled to Vidin and joined the band of the famed ex-janissary outcast Pazvan-Oglu. His hasty temper got the best of him there, and he killed two band members before finding himself on the run once again.

In 1803, he joined Stanoje Glavaš's army unit, so he could step up to headman of "Smederevo Nahia",to duke Djuša. When Duke Djuša (Dušan Vulićević) ask of Stanoje a brave and trusting man Stanoje had no better man than Veljko. From 1804 he was in four battles with Stanoje Glavaš, and afterwards with Dusan and Vujica Vulićević. Veljko's stubbornness influenced on him to be disobedient to Vujica in times of battle, and afterwards neither to Karadjordje. With Vulićević he fought to free Beograd (1806), where he fought bravely. In the year 1807 he becomes buljubaša and is granted permission from the Council (Soviet) to spread rebellion in Krivi Vir and Crna Reka. In 1809 he bravely defend Soko Banja from the Turks. His personal bravery was extraordinary, and because of his bravery he was known allaround. Hasty and always a hajduk, Veljko had little discipline, and the Council had much trouble with him. In the year 1810 he was decorated with Russian Golden Cross for his bravery.

He was noted in the battle of Varvarin, where he was wounded in his left arm, and because of it he was slightly crippled. Year 1811 he become Voivoda of Krajina and he was sent to Negotin, in Krajina. Year 1813. few Turkish horseman attack him at village of Bukovče where Veljko smash them. Turks then set forth with much stronger force, so Veljko retreated to Negotin to defend it.

Big battles took place around Negotin in summer of 1813. Veljko penetrated to Vidin, then around Bukovče he encountered smaller Turkish squads. But Turks began to lay siege to Negotin with reinforcements from Vlaška (Wlacchia). In total 16 000 Turkish soldiers attacked Negotin, that was defended by 3000 Serbian soldiers. Veljko fortified Negotin, build a moat and towers, and waited for the Turks. The tallest tower in which Veljko resided, was named Baba Finka (granny Finka). In the moats together with Veljko were his brothers Milutin and Miljko as there were the buljubaše and bimbaše Hadži-Nikola, Abraš, Delibalta and others. The expected aid that Veljko had requested didn't arrive, and ammunition was running low, so Veljko ordered all tin objects in the city melted down for ammunition, and he ordered metal coins to be put into the cannons. One morning after twenty days of defence when he ordered repair around mote he was struck by a cannon ball. He could barely say just "Get!", and died. His brother Milutin buried him at sunset at Negotin's church. After Veljko's death Turks conquered Negotin and soon all Krajina. He is still remembered for his famous words : Glavu dajem, Krajinu ne dajem. (Head i give, but not Krajina)

Just before the Battle of Negotin, his friend suggested to him that he send his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands. But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great haiduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless. Veljko considered his personal reputation and glory more important than mere gold.