Page 263 - Weiss, Jernej, ur. 2017. Glasbene migracije: stičišče evropske glasbene raznolikosti - Musical Migrations: Crossroads of European Musical Diversity. Koper/Ljubljana: Založba Univerze na Primorskem in Festival Ljubljana. Studia musicologica Labacensia, 1
P. 263
the musical migration: czech musicians in sarajevo
After the establishment of the first Yugoslav state, the presence of
Czech musicians11 in Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be quali-
fied as a “real” immigration.
Czech musicians in Sarajevo
A crucial characteristic of Czech presence in Bosnia is a varied social en-
gagement which had a very fruitful effect on different forms of social life.
Czech immigrants acted as organizers of social, entertainment and sport
activities, founders or members of singing societies. Moreover, the excel-
ling activity in the area of music culture led to the creation of slogan “If
Czech, then a musician”, which clearly indicated this nation’s particular at-
tachment to the art of music, which they nourished in the new environ-
ment as well. Czech immigrants to Bosnia were very much involved at two
levels of music culture, i.e. in amateur and professional music activity.
Czech immigrants’ amateur music activity implied involvement of in-
dividuals who were permanently employed in industry, trade or economy
but were also hard workers in culture in their respective environments. Ac-
tually, wherever they were present in a large number, Czechs founded their
national societies, most often named Česká beseda, the primary goal of
which was the preservation of national identity.12
Czechs’ professional musical activity is part of the general contribu-
tion by Czech experts to the development of economy, science, culture and
arts in Bosnia. Compared to amateur musicians, who immigrated to Bos-
nia with the aim of permanent settlement, professional musicians were
coming in order to find jobs in professional cultural institutions, working
for a shorter or longer time periods before they would finally re-emigrate to
their home or a third country. Only few of them formed professional or pri-
vate bonds to Bosnia and remained there until the end of their career or life.
“Music in Society”, Sarajevo, October 28–30. 2010, eds. Jasmina Talam, Fatima
Hadžić, Refik Hodžić (Sarajevo: Musicological Society of FB&H, Academy of Music,
2012), 54-62.
11 The term “Czech musicians” in this paper is used for musicians originating from all
three Czech historical regions, so called Czech lands (in Czech: České země). The
Czech lands include Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia which were the provinces
within the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and since 1 January 1993 the Czech Repub-
lic comprises.
12 The amateur musical activity of Czechs in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not the topic
of this work. For more on this, see: Hadžić, “Čeští hudebníci v Bosně a Hercegovině:
jejich činnost a význam v kontextu dějin bosenskohercegovské hudby,” 119–123.
261
After the establishment of the first Yugoslav state, the presence of
Czech musicians11 in Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be quali-
fied as a “real” immigration.
Czech musicians in Sarajevo
A crucial characteristic of Czech presence in Bosnia is a varied social en-
gagement which had a very fruitful effect on different forms of social life.
Czech immigrants acted as organizers of social, entertainment and sport
activities, founders or members of singing societies. Moreover, the excel-
ling activity in the area of music culture led to the creation of slogan “If
Czech, then a musician”, which clearly indicated this nation’s particular at-
tachment to the art of music, which they nourished in the new environ-
ment as well. Czech immigrants to Bosnia were very much involved at two
levels of music culture, i.e. in amateur and professional music activity.
Czech immigrants’ amateur music activity implied involvement of in-
dividuals who were permanently employed in industry, trade or economy
but were also hard workers in culture in their respective environments. Ac-
tually, wherever they were present in a large number, Czechs founded their
national societies, most often named Česká beseda, the primary goal of
which was the preservation of national identity.12
Czechs’ professional musical activity is part of the general contribu-
tion by Czech experts to the development of economy, science, culture and
arts in Bosnia. Compared to amateur musicians, who immigrated to Bos-
nia with the aim of permanent settlement, professional musicians were
coming in order to find jobs in professional cultural institutions, working
for a shorter or longer time periods before they would finally re-emigrate to
their home or a third country. Only few of them formed professional or pri-
vate bonds to Bosnia and remained there until the end of their career or life.
“Music in Society”, Sarajevo, October 28–30. 2010, eds. Jasmina Talam, Fatima
Hadžić, Refik Hodžić (Sarajevo: Musicological Society of FB&H, Academy of Music,
2012), 54-62.
11 The term “Czech musicians” in this paper is used for musicians originating from all
three Czech historical regions, so called Czech lands (in Czech: České země). The
Czech lands include Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia which were the provinces
within the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and since 1 January 1993 the Czech Repub-
lic comprises.
12 The amateur musical activity of Czechs in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not the topic
of this work. For more on this, see: Hadžić, “Čeští hudebníci v Bosně a Hercegovině:
jejich činnost a význam v kontextu dějin bosenskohercegovské hudby,” 119–123.
261
