Symphonic Poem "Nikola Tesla – Predawn" by Stevan Divjaković

Ira Prodanov

doi:10.5937/10.5937/newso2566085P

Ira Prodanov University of Novi Sad, Academy of Arts

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/10.5937/newso2566085P

Keywords: Nikola Tesla, Stevan Divjaković, symphonic poem

Abstract

The Serbian scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) remains at the center of interest within the scientific community even today, as his inventions continue to be relevant – perhaps even more so than in the time they were created. Tesla’s personality also continues to intrigue the world of art. Numerous works bearing his name, including books dedicated to him, visual artworks, and multimedia projects testify to the continuous effort of artists to express their admiration for this genius in various ways. Among the Serbian composers inspired by Tesla is the Vojvodina-based Stevan Divjaković (1953). In his symphonic poem Nikola Tesla – Predawn, conceived in a developmental form, he employs a distinctive framing technique reminiscent of cinematographic art. This approach gives the work notable expressive flexibility typ ical of applied music, thereby granting it, in addition to a concert life, further potential to become part of various multimedia projects.

Author Biography

Ira Prodanov, University of Novi Sad, Academy of Arts

Ph.D., musicologist, is a full professor at the Academy of Arts of the University of Novi Sad and the University of Banja Luka. Her areas of expertise include European and Serbian music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, as well as interdisciplinarity in music, particularly the relationship between music and other arts. She has served as coordinator or team member on several Tempus, Erasmus, and Horizon projects, and as principal investigator on more than ten projects of national significance. Devoted to innovation in music education, she regularly delivers training as lifelong learning. She is an international reviewer for the accreditation of study programs in the region and an active lecturer within the EUGLOH European University Alliance. She has published 11 books, both single-authored and co-written, and more than 50 scholarly articles. She introduced a new Master’s program at the Academy of Arts titled Music and Media. She is the recipient of the 2024 Culture Medal for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (2024).