Osterc and Church Music

Abstract

In the past years Osterc's personality and work were in many respects studied from one aspect only. On closer examination of the biographical material it turns out that he was in fact a personality with more than just one level of experience. Such was he also in his attitude towards his religious belief as well as in his constantly changing political views. Also his church music has so far remained on the fringe of professional interest. The composer wrote during 1928-1932 five compositions fo different religious texts (Requiem, Ave Maria, Alleluia, Pater noster, Magnificat). In these works the composer shows himself not only as a representative of new musical directions, revolutionary under current circumstances, but also as an author familiar with tradition and genuinely capable of including its elements in the modern musical expression.