Vasilije Mokranjac (1923–1984) gave a versatile and lasting contribution to Serbian art music, culture and pedagogy. Born in the family of musicians, he showed his gift for music from an early age. He graduated from the Music Academy in Belgrade, where he studied the piano with Emil Hajek, and composition with Stanojlo Rajičić. Following his initial pedagogic work at the Schools of music “Josif Marinković” and “Mokranjac” in Belgrade, in 1956 he was elected assistant professor of composition at the Music Academy in Belgrade, where he continued to work as associate professor (since 1865) and full professor (since 1972). Between 1962 and 1965 he was the President of the Composers Association of Serbia. In 1967 he was elected Corresponding Member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and in 1976 he became Full Member of this institution. That same year he received the 7th July Award for Life Achievement.

Vasilije Mokranjac’s opus encompasses five symphonies and other works for symphony orchestra, concertos, chamber and soloist music, whereas his piano works occupy a special place. He also composed radio-dramas and many scores of incidental music for theatre and film.

About the piece

Similarly to Mokranjac’s other orchestral and concertante works from the third and final creative phase (1972-1984), Lirska poema[Lyrical Poem] for orchestra (1974) is a single-movement piece, with the characteristics of a dynamic-dramatic arch form. In terms of its harmonic language, Mokranjac’s prolific use of the scale which is known as Messiaen’s second mode of limited transpositions or Scriabin’s mode is of particular interest.