ASCETIC DISCOURSE by D. Zivkovic

ASCETIC DISCOURSE is a cantata for voice and ensemble, a meditation on reality’s innermost truths.  Through deep contemplation, it seeks a quiet transfiguration achieved by stripping life of its excesses, discarding false values and worldly distractions.  It is about finding peace in solitude, a calm serenity beyond the clamor of the external world.

The music is inspired by a contemplative text by Abba Philimon, taken from the ancient Byzantine spiritual collection "Philokalia," and musically reflects the peaceful unison singing of the Valamo monastery.  The core of the musical ideas lies in a complete, deep cognition of all creation.  Beauty is found in simplicity, in the simplicity of unison.

This piece is not minimalistic, not a "drone," and not meant to be developed.  There is no need for it to exist in the outer world.  It is a hesychastic hymn of an apophatic nature, my need to create music that descends deep into silence and finds there the sweetness of the heart—music without time.

Mokranjac Award Committee on Ascetic Discourse

Ascetic Discourse, a cantata for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble, is a richly crafted and musically diverse work, distinguished by its multidirectional dialogue with both contemporary trends and ancient, traditional sources of inspiration. The text by Father Philimon, drawn from the Byzantine spiritual collection Philokalia, profoundly shapes the colorful, delicate, and emotionally evocative nature of the music. Djuro Zivkovic masterfully employs modern compositional techniques, which serve to express his distinctive artistic individuality and refined aesthetic style. Ascetic Discourse marks a significant step forward in the evolution of Serbian and European contemporary music, offering something new and authentic to the musical landscape.