Petar Stojanović (1877–1957)

[Theodore S.]

I hope this isn't inappropriate to add, but I came across this concert with the Belgrade Philharmonic at Kolarac Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, for January 22 2027: https://www.bgf.rs/en/repertoar_cp/smbatyan-and-sidorova/

The latter two pieces I would never venture to refer to as "romantic" in the least, but the first piece is one I was excited to see: Petar Stojanović's symphonic poem "Sava", Op. 41, a wonderful piece of Yugoslavian late-romantic orchestral music (Stojanović is one of my favorite Serbian composers). There is only this one recording of it available for now, and I would be surprised if this new performance next year gets recorded in any way, and to me that makes it quite unsung (Stojanović on the whole is a very unsung composer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0V4GaD5Rk

[Ilja]

Stojanović is a really interesting composer: somewhat of a late starter who in later years seems to have mixed his traditional romantic idiom with influences from what sounds like Les Six (for instance in the late Double Concerto for Violin, Piano and orchestra in A major, op. 110 (1950)). Unfortunately, there are very few recordings around and many that are could be improved upon.

[Theodore S.]

One of my favorite pieces of his, besides "Sava", is his Violin Concerto no. 5 in D major. This piece is a neo-Baroque piece, attempting (quite successfully in my opinion) to synthesize the Baroque and Romantic styles into a short and tightly-written concerto, with a very moving slow movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3soOMqiTfhc&pp=ygUQcGV0YXIgc3RvamFub3ZpYw%3D%3D. This piece really deserves a second recording.

Another favorite (all "favorites" being pieces that have been recorded) is his romantic Piano Quintet in C minor, Op. 9, an interesting work attempting to blend Serbian-style melodies and harmonies into a very conservative German-style model. This is an earlier work written before WWI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56PwuGZiq8Q&t=91s&pp=ygUecGV0YXIgc3RvamFub3ZpYyBwaWFubyBxdWludGV0

Interestingly, only last year one of his pieces received a world premiere with the Belgrade Philharmonic - his Alto Saxophone Concerto in E-flat major, Op. 74. This piece very thankfully has a video recording of the performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTB7plTJQNk

Other pieces of his (recorded and unrecorded) include 4 other violin concertos, a piano trio, a piano quartet, a string trio, at least 2 violin sonatas and viola sonatas, a cello sonata (or suite?), numerous duets for violin and piano, a sonata for oboe and harp, and several stage works including operettas and ballets. There is a school named after him in Serbia.
Evidently several of his works, such as the Piano Trio, have been performed in Serbia in recent years, but these performances have not been recorded.

In 2019, a CD of some of his sonatas for string instruments and piano has been released: https://dais.sanu.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6924. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out where I can purchase this CD, but I did find a Serbian news website about Stojanović which evidently includes the entire audio track: https://www.rts.rs/radio/radio-beograd-2/5764192/kamerne-sonate-kompozitora-petra-stojanovica.html

Finally, several of his works for violin and piano were recently published, but sadly they all seem to be already out of print: https://delfi.rs/knjige/122628-svita-u-starom-stilu-op-54-knjiga-delfi-knjizare.html, https://delfi.rs/knjige/122627-zbirka-kompozicija-za-violinu-i-klavir-knjiga-delfi-knjizare.html

[eschiss1]

The score of the piano quintet ( @ IMSLP) looks more late Romantic and Regerian than very conservative, be told, likewise the piano trio and quartet...

[tuatara442442]

but I did find a Serbian news website about Stojanović which evidently includes the entire audio track

Thank you for discovering this, Theodore!

[tuatara442442]

but I did find a Serbian news website about Stojanović which evidently includes the entire audio track

Actually the fourth movement of the five-movement cello sonata in old style is missing here. But I'm very grateful that this broadcast featured this obscure disc almost in its entirety!