“The music is highly eclectic, and it should be approached accordingly”: Voice in Jug Markovic's compositions

Abstract

Music for voice holds a special place in the opus of Serbian composer Jug Markovic. In all of his pieces, Markovic maintains a type of care for the vocal part that distinguishes him in the context of Serbian art music, and, at the same time, puts him on the international map of contemporary composers who work with voice in non-traditional ways. This is reflected in his intention to diversify performing techniques and vocal styles, in the detailed instructions regarding technique and scenic gesture, and in the use of technological means in vocal performance and manipulation of sound. In this paper, I investigate the expansion of vocal and bodily expression via performing techniques and new technologies, and address the issues of autonomy, agency, and responsibility of composer and vocal performer, in order to determine the characteristics and different factors of eclecticism in Markovic?s vocal music.