Marxism and sociopolitical engagement in Serbian musical periodicals between the two world wars

Between the two World Wars, in Belgrade and Serbia, seven musical jour­\udnals were published: “Musical Gazette” (1922), “Music” (1928–1929), “Herald \udof the Musical Society Stanković” (1928–1934, 1938–1941; renamed to “Mu­\udsical Herald” in january 1931), “Sound” (1932–1936), “Journal of The South \udSlav Choral Union” (1935–1936, 1938), “Slavic Music” (1939–1941) and “Music \udReview” (1940). The influence of marxism can be observed in “Musical Her­\udald” (in the series from 1938), “Sound” and “Slavic Music”.\udA Marxist influence is obvious through indications of determinism. Name­\udly, some writers (Dragutin Čolić) observed elements of musical art and its \udhistory as (indirect) consequences of sociopolitical and economic process­\udes. Still, journals published articles of domestic and foreign authors who in­\udterpreted the relation between music, society and economy in a much more \udmoderate and subtle manner (D.Cvetko, A.Schering).\udEditors and associates of these journals also had proscriptive ambitions – \udthey recommended and even determined regulations for composers about \udwhat kind of music to write according to social goals and needs. According \udto tendencies in Marxism, there was a follow up of musical work in the So­\udviet Union. Editors tried not to be one-sided. There were writings about the \udUSSR by left orientated associates as much as emigrants from that country, \udand articles of Soviet authors were translated. Also, there were critical tones \udabout musical development in the first country of socialism. \udSerbian musical periodicals recognized the enormous threat from fascism. \udAlso, there were articles about influence of Nazi ideology and dictatorship \udon musical prospects in Germany. Since Germany annexed Sudetenland \udin 1938, “Musical Herald” expressed support to musicians and people of \udthat friendly country by devoting the October and November 1938 issue to \udCzechoslovak music, along with an appropriate introduction by the editor, \udStana Đurić-Klajn