DAVORIN JENKO AND THE CULTURAL LIFE OF SLOVENES AND SERBS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Abstract

Davorin Jenko was a choirmaster, conductor, musical tutor as well as, for almost half a century, a composer. Therefore, his life should be evaluated as marked by pedagogical and cultural-artistic work, and a fight for the national revival of Slovenes and Serbs within the Pan-Slavic movement. Ethnic relations in the romantic and post-romantic era were extremely tense. At the same time, that was an exceedingly important time for the Slovenes and the Serbs, a time that brought about cultural renaissance and development. In the late 19th century Jenko became one of the first representatives of the Romantic Era of Slovenian and late Serbian music. Despite his exceptional role in this cultural renaissance, during his lifetime he hasn’t received a proper place or honors in Slovenia. It was the Serbs who honored Jenko with full membership in the Serbian Royal Academy.