View source for Svetozár Stračina

[[File:A-1556116-1303045695.jpeg.jpg|thumb|Svetozár Stračina. Photo sourced from Discogs]]
Svetozár Stračina (Born December 3, 1940 , Martin - died February 26, 1996, Bratislava, buried in Banská Bystrica) was a [[:Category:Slovakia|Slovak]] composer, collector of folk songs and editor of their recordings, co-organizer of folklore festivals, author of songs and arrangements of musical folklore, orchestral works, film and stage music.

== Biography == 
Svetozár Stračina and studied piano and accordion at the Music School in Banská Bystrica. From 1960 to 1965 he studied musicology at the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University in Bratislava. <sup>[1]</sup> While still a university student, he started composing, starting with incidental music for several theaters in Bratislava <sup>[1][2]</sup>.

The collaboration with the Lúčnica ensemble and its artistic director Štefan Nosál in the early 1960s became crucial for his further work. He composed a number of compositions for Lúčnice, as well as entire stage programs - the most famous are "Na obnôcke" (1963), "Čirčianka" (1966), "Sviatok na Zemplín" (1968), "Terchovanci idú" (1969), "Vitaj, our spring”(1974) or the full-length representative program “This is Lúčnica”(1988). <sup>[1]</sup> He also collaborated with SĽUK. 

Between 1967 and 1996 he created a number of compositions for the Orchestra of Folk Instruments and arrangements for many performers of Slovak folk songs (Anna Hulejová, Helena Záhradníková, Darina Laščiaková, Michal Seredič, Ján Ambróz, Angela Vargicová, Folk music of the Muchov brothers and others).<sup>[2]</sup> Through his work he tried his best to support the Slovak folk movement: he was one of the co-organizers of folklore festivals in Detva and Východná, he drew ideas for his musical and stage work from the bearers of traditional folk culture, with whom he often met, and collected folk songs. <sup>[1]</sup> His work in recording the traditional music of important folklore regions - such as Kysúc, Orava, Liptov, Podpoľania or Terchová - is also significant. <sup>[2]</sup>

As part of his radio, television and film production, he collaborated with leading Slovak directors (such as Martin Ťapák, Andrej Lettrich) and created stage music for approximately 160 films, plus a number of television and radio productions. <sup>[1]</sup>

Between 1970 and 1985, Stračina participated as the [[:Category:Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakian]] representative in the international competition of folk music recordings "Prix de musique folklorique de Radio Bratislava", organized by the Czechoslovak Radio. His compositions have won 10 awards, making him the most successful composer in the history of the competition and becoming a recognized European figure in the field of traditional music. <sup>[3]</sup> After a break of several years, the competition was renewed in 2003, being organized by the Radio and Television of Slovakia together with the European Broadcasting Union EBU as an international radio competition of traditional folklore recordings, named the "Svetozár Stračina Grand Prix“ <sup>[1][3][4]</sup>

In January 1996, Stračina received the "Tribute to Eugen Suchoň" award from the then Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic Ivan Hudec for his contribution to Slovak music. <sup>[5]</sup> It was the last award he received, because less than two months later, he died at the end of February 1996 in Bratislava. He was buried, according to his wishes, in Banská Bystrica. <sup>[6]</sup>

Streets in Martin (S. Stračina Street <sup>[7]</sup>), Detva (S. Stračina) and Banská Bystrica (Svetozára Stračina Street) were named in his honor.

== Awards == 
* 1996 - "tribute to Eugen Suchoň" award of the Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic <sup>[5]</sup>
* 2011 - Ľudovít Štúr I. class class - In memoriam <sup>[6]</sup>

== Film music == 
* 1969 - Málka, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1970 - Red heifer, directed by Martin Ťapák
* 1971 - The Bride Sticks, directed by: Martin Ťapák
* 1974 - The Day That Won't Die, directed by Martin Ťapák
* 1975 - Pacho, hybský zbojník, director: Martin Ťapák, camera: Benedikt Krivošík
* 1976 - Sváko Ragan, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1977 - Christmas Waffles, directed by Martin Ťapák
* 1977 - How Vinco Caught, Directed by Juraj Lihosit
* 1978 - Cruel Love, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1978 - Long Live Grandpa (TV series), director: Jozef Medveď
* 1979 - Two Farces, directed by Martin Ťapák
* 1979 - Mišo, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1979 - Death Walks in the Mountains, directed by Ivan Teren
* 1981 - Bičianka from the valley, directed by Jozef Zachar
* 1981 - Knocking on the Mine (TV series), director: Andrej Lettrich
* 1981 - Night Riders, directed by: Martin Hollý Jr.
* 1981 - Lifeguard and Vratko, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1982 - The largest ashtray in the world, directed by: Martin Ťapák
* 1986 - Elizabeth's Court (TV series), director: Andrej Lettrich
* 1986 - Kohút does not sing, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1988 - Coloring - singing - Autumn, puppet film , director: Helena Slavíková-Rabarová, camera: Milan Peťovský
* 1989 - Montiho čardáš, director: Martin Ťapák
* 1991 - Zuzanka Hraškovie, director: Franek Chmiel

== References ==
# Lexicon of personalities of the city of Martin . 1st ed. Martin: Osveta, 2006. ISBN 80-8063-223-5 . Chapter STRAČINA, Svetozár - music composer, p. 230 - 231.
# Personalities of SĽUK - Svetozár Stračina [online]. SĽUK , [cit. 2018-02-20]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030149/http://www.sluk.sk/sk/sluk/osobnosti/svetozar-stracina/ Available online].
#  ZÁHUMENSKÁ, Miroslava. Grand Prix Svetozára Stračinu 2017 [online]. Musical life, 19.05.2017, [cit. 2017-06-15]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170615002527/http://hc.sk/hudobny-zivot/clanok/hudobne-spravodajstvo/1395-grand-prix-svetozara-stracinu-2017/ Available online].
# Svetozár Stračina Grand Prix [online]. EBU , [cit. 2018-02-20]. [https://www.ebu.ch/contents/projects/radio/svetozar-stracina-grand-prix.html Available online]. (in English)
#  BUDAJOVÁ, Marianna. The composer Svetozár Stračina died 20 years ago [online]. Bratislava: TASR / www.teraz.sk, 26.02.2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160227122148/http://www.teraz.sk/kultura/skladatel-svetozar-stracina-umrtie/183510-clanok.html Available online].
# Svetozár Stračina sought inspiration in Slovak folklore [online]. Bratislava: TASR / www.vtedy.sk, 03.12.2015, [cit. 2017-03-18]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170318033016/https://www.vtedy.sk/svetozar-stracina-inspiracia-slovensky-folklor-narodenie-vyrocie Available online].
# Generally binding regulation no. 118 on determining the name of streets in the city of Martin [online]. Martin: the city of Martin, 21.12.2017, [cit. 2018-02-20]. [http://martin.sk/assets/File.ashx?id_org=700031&id_dokumenty=57263 Available online].
# [https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kto_bol_kto_v_hist%C3%B3rii_Banskej_Bystrice Who was who in the history of Banská Bystrica] 1255 - 2000



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== External links == 
* [http://www.sluk.sk/sk/sluk/osobnosti/svetozar-stracina/ Svetozár Stračina on SĽUK website]
* [http://gpss.rtvs.sk/sk/o-festivale Grand Prix of Svetozár Stračina (Svetozár Stračina Grand Prix)]
 
[[Category: Slovak Profiles]]