WELCOME Magazine 16 - Turistička zajednica grada Dubrovnika

By Sanja Dražić
Thirtieth Anniversary of Cappella Ragusina
– Linđo «N» Vocal Group
Croatian
Music Heritage
Lovers
Many anniversaries which
we celebrate remind us
that some individual or
ensemble is still active. It sometime happens
that we have almost forgotten the
honouree, since he is no longer present
in public and every-day life. However,
the Croatian early and traditional
music ensemble Cappella Ragusina has
a completely different story. It is not
only the ensemble which has continuously
been active for thirty years now,
but we may well say that appearing in
their picturesque costumes the ensemble
members have been enriching our
cultural life all the time with an ever
increasing zeal and performing nerve.
And it more and more comprises – deservedly
– the Croatian music heritage,
both old and new. The Linđo Vocal
Group, which grew into the Croatian
early and traditional music ensemble
Cappella Ragusina - The Linđo «N»
Vocal Group, was founded by four
musicians: Krešimir Magdić, singer,
player and music leader, soprano Ilka
Zec Ðapo, bass Vinko Dragojević and
baritone Nikola Cvjetković (in whose
honour, after his death, the Vocal Group
added the letter „N“ to its name). If
you attend some of their concerts today,
in addition to the unchangeable trefoil
Magdić – Zec Ðapo – Dragojević, you
can listen to soprano Paulina Ðapo,
tenor Ivan Sušac, countertenor Mario
Miladin, baritone Tomislav Marinović,
bass Vicko Dragojević (lute and guitar),
lutenist Joško Berdović and violinist
Viktor Lenert.
The Ensemble’s first appearance at the
1979 Dalmatian Vocal Groups Festival
in Omiš brought it the best debutant
title. Performing continuously at the
festival finales ever since, this vocal
group has won numerous awards and
prizes for interpreting both traditional
and new songs. Apart from professional
juries, the audiences have also recognized
the quality and importance of the
Ensemble awarding it 1st prizes several
times. The Omiš Festival presented
the Ensemble with numerous jubilee
plaquettes, and in 1997 chose it to
perform in the Vatican before Pope John
Paul II. For its early music concert at the
42nd Dubrovnik Summer Festival the
Ensemble was awarded Orlando Award
for the best musical performance. The
Ensemble has released a large number of
CDs with Dalmatian vocal-group songs,
the Croatian early music, the Glagolitic
Chant and numerous carols.
«The appearance of new ethno-musicological
and musicological materials in
the research of father Miho Demović,
Ph.D.» – said Krešimir Magdić – «inspired
me for this combination of vocal
group and ensemble.» He claims that
a discovered piece draws you further
on, and this is a never-ending work.
Thanks to the fact that Mr. Magdić is a
Christmas service cantor in St Dominic’s
Church, the Ensemble rehearses there.
Commenting the venues of which the
acoustics are most suitable for the
Ensemble’s performances, he claims:
«Many venues in the City have the
problem of noise, while some have either
too quiet or blurred acoustics. The
Benedictine Monastery Atrium is the
most convenient for the Ensemble. We
would like to perform in the Holy Spirit
Church on the Island of Šipan, which is
not used at all. It has the finest acoustics
that even has its own colour.»
The Ensemble is preparing a new CD
with the traditional Glagolitic chant,
which makes the Croatian musical heritage
recognizable and specific within the
European context.
Wel c o m e to Du b r o v n i k 21