Melódi & Divna Ljubojevic - Serbian Orthodox Spiritual Music

Choir and Studio for Spiritual music MELÓDI was founded in 1991 at the monastery of Vavedenje, where it sings at religious services, on Sundays and Holydays. The Choir's name originated from its patron St Roman Melod, who was one of the first and the greatest church poets. The word "metod" means a singer and it is of Greek origin.

The ensemble consists of 25 singers; some of them have been working with Mrs Ljubojevlc, the conductor, ever since 1988. MELÓDI Choir. In its repertoire has Orthodox spiritual music works, from the earliest writings of Byzantine, Serbian, Bulgarian and Russian monodic, through early polyphony, to the works of contemporary authors.

Except from regular singing at religious services, which is their primal activity, in nine years of its existence the Choir has given 70 individual concerts throughout Yugoslavia and has performed at international festivals of spiritual music held in Novi Sad and Belgrade ("Choirs Among Frescoes"), where the Melódi, in the year 2000, won the "Vojislav llic" award for the best authentic musical performance. The Choir has also taken part in "Summer Spiritual Academy" held in the monastery Studenica, has successfully recorded for many Yugoslav Radio and TV programmes (BK Television, TV Studio B. RTS and others), has visited the monasteries of Manasija, Ravanica, Vitovnica, Gornjak, Savina, Vracevsnica… Thus, for example, in the letter of gratitude from the Vracevsnica Monastery Administration is said:
"Your inspired singing has united many hearts in praising our eternal Light that binds and strengthens Serbian people in pure Orthodoxy".

The two international projects which differ from ensemble basic programme orientation are also noteworthy: "Little Solemn Mass" by G. Rossini with Basel Opera soloists and the baroque opera "Dido and Aeneas" by H. Purcell in collaboration with the Studio for Early Music and eminent soloists from Great Britain. Two tapes were published by Melódi, one in October 1996. entitled "Axion Estin" (It is Truly Meet to Call Thee Blessed), and another one in 1999, entitled "Dostojno Jest". These tapes represent a review of the ensemble work. These publications are the editions of the Monastery Vavedenje.



Divna Ljubojevic, a conductor and an artistic manager of the Choir and Studio for spiritual music MELÓDI since 1991, was born in 1970 in Belgrade. She has finished music high-school "Mokranjac" in Belgrade and graduated with honours from Music Academy in Novi Sad. Mrs Ljubojevic' has been learning church singing since her early childhood in the choir of the monastery of Vavedenje. She has been taught church singing by nuns who have diligently cherished a unique style based on traditional Russian singing and Karlovac singing in N. Baracki version. She has been conducting since 1988, initially in "Mokranjac" choir, which has given numerous concerts both locally and abroad and they have performed the first Easter Liturgy under the dome of St Sava Temple. Between 1990 and 1991, she was a conductor of "The First Belgrade Choral Society", as "the youngest conductor ever in long history of the oldest vocal group". With such renewed ensembie (formed in 1853), she has achieved significant performances locally and abroad, especially in Greece at festivals of spiritual music in Delphi, Karditsa and Kephaionia. As a music pedagogue for solfeggio and chorus, Mrs Ljubojevic' has been awarded several first prizes at various competitions in the music school category. In 1997, blessed by Orthodox Bishop Luka, she has established St Sava Church Choir in Paris, France. They have performed Slavic and Greek liturgy at concerts in Paris, Brusseis and Sanlis. In July of 1998 Mrs Divna Ljubojevic' successfully taught both singing and chorus singing at the Academie Musicale d'Ete in Amilly, France. She presented her singing on the "Zivonosni Istocnik" CD and tape in 2000. She is a founder of the Choir and Studio for Spiritual music MELÓDI as weil. Ever since the day when Divna, a few friends and associates of her have formed the ensemble, this particular work has remained the main aspect of her artistic occupation.

Tracklist:
01. Axion estin 1.05
02. Kyrie eleison 1.27
03. It is truly meet to call Thee blessed 1.51
04. Asomen odin to Theo 1.35
05. Today the Virgin 1.30
06. Lord, I have cried 2.07
07. Kratima (Terirem) 3.33
08. Aghni Parthene 4.48
09. In the Red Sea 1.30
10. O, come, let us worship 1.10
11. In secrecy virtues making 2.52
12. Today the grace 1.23
13. The flaming sword doesn't keep the Door of Eden anymore 1.20
14. Thou light of Orthodoxy 1.15
15. Thy Narivity, O Christ our God 1.03
16. Glory to the God in the highest 2.24
17. In the flash Thou didst fall asleep 2.38
18. Christ is risen from the dead 1.46
19. Christ's Resurection 2.33
20. O Heavenly King 3.42
21. Bleesed art Thou O Christ our God 0.52
22. Cherubic hymn 3.44
23. Angels synod 4.11
24. I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord 5.26
25. With the Saints 2.48
26. To Thee, our leader in battle and defender 2.10
27. God is with us 3.37

Total playing time: 66.59