Homo Balcanicus
In 2010 i was approached by the young Japanese marimba player Kana omori to compose a new solo marimba piece for her She ask for something that would be similar to my already we know and frequency perform piece ilijas and ultimatum 1 it needed almost 4 year until i finally find time and muse to compose another piece in such “salvic” moose Homo Balcanicus of course is just and imaginary species something that exit only in my personal mind and felling the tittle make allusion to the very unit and especially in the part often “harsh” they of living thinking and behaving of the people from the area know as the balkan. The piece became tonal throughout more than i originally planed it starts with very strong and emotional melodic passage that shortly after are combined with more gloovy relax and very uneven rhythm some part of the piece are in strick bar and time while other are using free metrical structure and rhythm “Senza Mizura” adding a low conga or low tom-tom (cover with a cloth) on alow side of the marimba just as to this rural ritual and dancing since music and dance are very importance part of most nation from the balkan and what is this balkan? It is place where the soul is huge and while where tear love hate and join are mixed and interwoven with each other in to a wonderful expensive , lovely but also wild and dangerous unity thus this piece can’t be played expensively enought ….. There is know over doing in the balkan …. Every emotion can be more emotional , every love more love , every groove more groove and every fote more forte …… no “kids” groven treatment here when performing the piece . NJZ
Composer Zivkovic is today one of the worlds most performed composers for Percussion music. His works for marimba and percussion have set new performing standards, and his captivating and energetic performances have influenced generations of marimbists. Many of Zivkovic’s compositions (for example: Ilijas, Ultimatum1, Trio per uno ) have become standards in contemporary percussion repertoire world-wide. His symphonic works are performed by orchestras world wide such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, BBC Concert Orchestra, London, Orchestra di Santa Cecilia, Rome, The Nothern Sinfonia in Newcastle, UK or Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra.
He is frequently commissioned by many soloists, orchestras and institutions, including two commissions from the German Ministry of Culture (Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württemberg). Recent years included commissions of Double Percussion concerto with Large Orchestra “Obsesiones”, percussion Trio “Sandy, the Hurricane”, solo marimba piece “Homo Balcanicus” last one in 2019 by Hamburg State Opera, for Percussion quartett. called “Credo in Unim Deum” . Beside his concert works, he has composed many compositions for younger players. Especially pieces from his “FUNNY MALLETS SERIES” have become some of the world’s most successful pedagogical works for mallets instruments.
