The Sokol movement (from the Slavic word for ''falcon'') is a youth sport movement and gymnastics organization first founded in Czech region of Austria-Hungary, Prague, in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrš and Jindřich Fügner. Primarily a fitness training center, the Sokol, also through lectures, discussions, and group outings provided what Tyrš viewed as physical, moral, and intellectual training for the nation. This training extended to members of all classes, and eventually to women. The movement also spread across all the regions populated by the Slavic culture in German Empire (Poland (Sokół)), Serbia, Bulgaria (Macedonia), Russian Empire (Poland, Ukraine, Belarus), and the rest of Austria-Hungary such as Slovenia and Croatia. In many of these nations, the organization also served as an early precursor to the Scouting movements. Though officially an institution "above politics", the Sokol played an important part in the development of Czech nationalism, providing a forum for the spread of mass-based nationalist ideologies. The articles published in the Sokol journal, lectures held in the Sokol libraries, and theatrical performances at the massive gymnastic festivals called ''Slets'' (Czech plural: ''slety''- meaning "meetings of birds" from the verb "slétnout se" - come together by flying) helped to craft and disseminate the Czech nationalist mythology and version of history.

Early history

The idea for physical training centers was not a new one. The Sokol movement consciously traced its roots in physical education to the athletes and warriors of Ancient Greece. More directly, the nature of the Sokol was influenced by the German Turnverein, mass-based, nation-minded gymnastics societies founded by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn in 1811.

Miroslav Tyrš, the founder of the first Sokol in Prague in 1862, continued as the most influential figure in the movement until his death in 1884. Born Friedrich Emanuel Tirsch into a German speaking family in 1834, Tyrš grew up under the influence of the Romantic nationalism that gave rise to the uprisings that swept across Europe in 1848. He received a thorough education at the University of Prague, where he majored in philosophy. It was not until the early 1860s that he became involved in the Czech nationalist cause, and changed his name to the Slavic form. After he failed to find a position in academia, Tyrš combined his experience working as a therapeutic gymnastics trainer with the nationalist ideologies he had been exposed to in Prague: the first Sokol club was formed.

The first Sokol worked to develop new Czech terminology for the training exercises, which centered on marching drills, fencing, and weightlifting. They designed a uniform that was a mélange of Slavic and revolutionary influences: brown Russian pants, a Polish revolutionary jacket, a Montenegrin cap, and a red Garibaldi shirt. A Sokol flag, red with a white falcon, was designed by the writer Karolína Světlá (and painted by known Czech artist Josef Mánes).

The Prague Sokol initially drew its leaders from the ranks of politicians and its members from the petite bourgeoisie and the working classes. The first president was Jindřich Fügner, an ethnic German who was a member of the Czech cause. Most founders were also members of the Young Czechs party, the most influential including Prince Rudolf von Thurn-Taxis, Josef Barák, and Julius and Eduard Grégr. The authorities of Austria-Hungary kept a continually close eye on the movement, but the reputation and prestige of the Sokol continued to grow; soon the Sokol members were known by most as the "Czech national army".

1860s and 1870s: Initial growth, militarization, and internal problems

Within the first year the Sokols expanded beyond Prague, first into the Moravia and the Slovenian regions of the Habsburg empire. Initially the majority of members were students and professionals, but over time there was a trend towards increasingly working class members.

The Sokol training went through periods of greater militarized training, during the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, when Sokol members were hired as guards for public events. This militaristic side of the Sokol movement continued to resurface throughout its history.

The internal issues that were to plague the Sokol movement over the years emerged almost immediately. These internal arguments reached fruition during the 1870s with the power struggle in leadership between the members of Old Czechs and the Young Czechs parties. Theoretically, the Sokol was a society “above politics.” Always flamboyantly nationalistic, the more conservative members of the Sokol argued that the organization should maintain its distance from politics while the Young Czech members advocated more direct political participation. Theoretically, the Sokol was also open equally to members of all classes. The informal “thou” (''ty'') was used by all members, but there were constant arguments over whether this was necessary or not. Different leaders believed that the Sokol was a mass-based institution defined by its working class members, while others viewed it more as a middle class apparatus by which to educate and raise the national consciousness of the working classes.

1880s: Slets, Union, and the French

In 1882, the first slet was held. ''Slet'' came from the Czech word for "a flocking of birds" (Czech plural: ''slety''). The same word is, of course, available in other Slavic populated regions. It meant a mass gymnastics (1572 Sokols) festival that became a grand tradition within the Sokol movement that spread across the Central Europe together with other Slavic movements such as the political Pan-Slavism. This first one and the following Slets included an elaborate welcoming ceremony at the train station, mass demonstrations, gymnastics competitions, speeches, and theatrical events, open to members of all Sokols.

In 1887 the Habsburg authorities finally allowed, after over twenty years worth of proposals, the formation of a union of Sokol clubs – Czech Sokol Community (''Česká obec sokolská'', ČOS). The union centralized all the Sokols in the Czech lands and sent missionary Sokol trainers to the rest of the Slavic world to found Sokol institutions in Kraków, Ljubljana, Zagreb, and even Russian Empire (mostly the Ukrainian lands).

In 1889, though officially forbidden by the authorities, members of the Prague Sokol went to the World's Fair in Paris. There they won several medals and established strong connections with the French gymnasts and French public. The Sokols have been credited with establishing the beginning of the strong French sympathy for the Czechs and their subsequent political alliances on this trip.

1890s: The progressive era

The 1890s were a progressive era for the Sokols. In order to encourage a wider range of participation, the Sokols reformed their programs, offering training sessions of varying intensities, extending their libraries, emphasizing the educational aspect of training, and starting programs for adolescents, youth, and women. There was an increasing focus on mass-based ideology and working class egalitarianism under the leadership of the Young Czechs, namely Jan Podlipný, who was also the mayor of Prague 1897–1900.

The second Slet was held in 1891 (over 5,000 Sokols) and the third one soon afterwards in 1895. At this third Slet the congress of the Sokol union laid out its progressive new trajectory in the St. Wenceslas Day (September 28) Resolutions. The leaders chose to continue to provide more accessible forms of training, with less focus on competition and more on an egalitarian idea of people’s gymnastics, balancing mental as well as physical education.

1900–1914: Competitors and neo-Slavism

The rise of the Social Democrats and Agrarian Parties in the political arena played out in Sokol politics as well as national ones. The Social Democrats formed a rival gymnastics society, the Workers' Gymnastics Club, (''Dělnická tělovýchovná jednota'', DTJ). Most Sokol leaders aligned with the Czech National Socialists after the decline of the Young Czech party, and attacked the Social Democrats as “Germans” and “Jews” opposed to the true Czech cause. Václav Kukař, a powerful ČOS figure, developed the policy of "cleansing" (''očištění'') and sought to limit membership to those who he believed demonstrated commitment to purely Czech causes. Most of the progressive members of the Sokols were purged or left voluntarily to join the DTJ. Another rival gymnast society was founded by the Christian-Socialist party under the name Orel ("Eagle"). In the face of such competition, the Sokols set about reaffirming their traditional mission under the leadership of Josef Scheiner.

The fourth Slet, held in 1901 (11,000 Sokols), boasted a large international participation, including Galician Poles, Slovenes, Croats, Russians, Bulgarians, Serbs, as well as Frenchmen and Americans. This Slet also marked the first appearance of women who grew to be a major part of Sokol members in the following decades.

The fifth Slet, held in 1907 (over 12,000 Sokols), had an increasingly Slavic focus and moved away from the more egalitarian idea of people's gymnastics with increased competition aspects. It marked the creation of the Federation of Slavic Sokols under the neo-Slavic idea of the Czechs as the strongest Slavic nation, second only to Russia.

At the 1910 meeting of the ČOS congress the sokols reaffirmed their intentions to remain "above politics” and loosened their strict membership rules to allow Social Democrats, though still not clericals, into the sokols.

In 1912, the first "All-Slavic Slet" (''Všeslovanský slet'', over 30,000 Sokols) was held with a largely military atmosphere, causing Augustin Očenášek (a member of Sokol) to remark, "''When the thunder comes and the nations rise up to defend their existence, let it be the Sokol clubs from which the cry to battle will sound...''" (Nolte, p78). The cry to battle did sound two years later, when the first rumors of Franz Ferdinand's assassination reached the Sokol members, most of whom were attending a regional Slet in Brno.

World War I to Communism: Continued struggle of Czech nationalism

With the onset of World War I, in 1915 the Sokols were officially disbanded. Many members were active in persuading the Czechs to defect from the Austro-Hungarian army to the Russian side. Sokol members also helped create the Czechoslovak Legions and local patrols that kept order after the disintegration of Habsburg authority, and during the creation of Czechoslovakia in October 1918. They also fulfilled their title as the "Czech national army", helping to defend Slovakia against the invasion of Béla Kun and the Hungarians.

The Sokol flourished in the early interwar period, and by 1930 had 630,000 members. The Sokols held one last Slet (350,000 Sokols) on the eve before the Munich Agreement of 1938 and were later brutally suppressed and banned during the Nazi occupation of Bohemia and Moravia.

After World War II they held one more Slet in 1948 before they were once again suppressed, this time by the Communists. The Communist Party tried to replace tradition of Slets with mass exercises employed for propaganda purposes: Spartakiad (''spartakiády'').

The Sokols reappeared briefly during the Prague Spring of 1968. After years of hibernation, Sokol was revived for the fourth time in 1990; a Slet was in 1994 (23,000 Sokols participating), after the fall of Communism. Presently, the organization focuses on physical training in gymnastics and other athletics. Its popularity is, however, well below pre-war levels and a large percentage of members are older people with memories of the pre-1948 Sokol movement. A further Slet was held in 2000 (25,000 Sokols); another was held in July 2006.

Sokol Abroad

Members of Sokol who emigrated from Czechoslovakia set up small Sokol groups abroad. This Sokol migration, for a variety of reasons, began even before Czechoslovakia became a nation in 1918, intensified as a result of the World Wars and the Communist suppression, and continues to this day. Bohemian, Moravian, and Slovak immigrants and Czech-American citizens started the American Sokol Organization in St. Louis Missouri in 1865, only three years after the first Prague Sokol. Units quickly formed and by 1878, the United States had 13 Sokol chapters. By 1937, American Sokol membership rolls counted nearly 20,000 adults in areas as far-flung as New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Cleveland, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, St. Louis, Texas and parts of Canada.

Expansion

Pionýr, which had under communism been a part of the Socialist Union of Youth is nowadays a non-political organization organizing leisure time for children, part of the International Falcon Movement - Socialist Education International.

At the beginning of the twentieth century the Sokol movement was introduced in Catalonia and soon was considered as a new tradition. It bore the name of falcó (hawk in Catalan) and was influenced by the older tradition of the castellers.

Quotations

"Whatever is Czech is also Sokol..." -Tyrš

See also

Sokol in Poland

Sokol Auditorium

Pan-Slavism

Mass games

External links

Česká obec sokolská – official webpage of the Czech Sokol Community

Slovak Catholic Sokol – official webpage of the largest active Slovak Sokols in USA

Pittsburgh's Slovak Catholic Sokol

American Sokol Educational and Physical Culture Organization – official webpage of the US Sokols

Sokolska knjižnica – Sokol Library (Serbian/Yugoslav) at Project Rastko page

The Sokol Movement – an article on American-Czech Educational Center webpage

Sokol – Our Czech Heritage – an article on SVU (Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences) webpages

Sokol Cleveland – in Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

Historical photographs of Sokol by Šechtl and Voseček studios

Sokol postcards

References

Nolte, Claire E. ''The Sokol in the Czech Lands to 1914: Training for the Nation.'' New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.

Crampton, R.J. ''Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century - And After.'' London: Routledge, 1997.

Jandásek, Ladislav. "The Founder of the Sokols: Miroslav Tyrš." ''Slavonic and East European Review'', 10 (1931/1932).

Kruger, Arnd, and Murray, William (eds). ''The Nazi Olympics: Sport, Politics, and Appeasement in the 1930s.'' University of Illinois: 2003. p9.

Category:Czech history Category:Sport in Czechoslovakia Category:Gymnastics Category:Nationalism Category:Sport in the Czech Republic

ca:Sokol cs:Sokol (spolek) de:Sokol (Turnbewegung) es:Sokol eo:Sokol-movado fr:Sokol (mouvement tchèque) it:Sokol (movimento) pl:Sokół (organizacja) ru:Сокольское движение sl:Sokol (društvo) uk:Сокіл (товариство)

Coordinates	28°36′36″N77°13′48″N
Name	Elena Risteska Елена Ристеска
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Elena Risteska
Alias	Elena
Born	April 27, 1986 Skopje, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia
Origin	Skopje, Macedonia
Genre	Pop, Hip Hop, R&B;, Rap
Occupation	Singer (Soprano), Songwriting
Age	21
Years active	2002–present
Label	M2 Productions
Website	Official Website
Past members	}}

Elena Risteska ( ; born April 27, 1986 in Skopje, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Macedonian singer and song-writer. She represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, held in Athens with the song "Ninanajna" and finished on the 12th place. That is the best result made by Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest ever. Risteska is also an occasional songwriter, writing for artists such as 4Play, Lambe Alabakoski, and Aleksandra Pileva.

Biography

Early life

Elena Risteska was born in Skopje on the 27th of April, SFR Yugoslavia (today Macedonia) and showed an interest in the arts at an early age. Her mother's name is Desa and her father's Acko. Elena inherited her musical interest from her mother but also pursued other hobbies and interests. In 1994, Elena joined the KUD "Kočo Racin", which was a club for folk dance and songs. Elena took part in school activities such as singing in the "Young Imitators" show and becoming a member of the drama club.

In 1996, Elena made her television debut during the ''Mak-Karaoke Show'' performing the song "Flamingo" on the commercial channel A1. The same year she started to take a course on the English and French languages. Elena started to sing in the school choir and went to Bulgaria for her first tour with the folk dance club. In 1998, Elena took part in many competitions and won many local, national, and international awards in drawing. In 2000, Elena went on tour in Bulgaria with the folk dance club.

Professional start

Elena rose to fame in Macedonia by competing and winning the music-based reality television show "''Play - Search For A Star''" in her home country. Her debut single, "Ona Drugoto" ("The Other Thing") became a hit in Macedonia, resulting in her successful debut album ''Den i Nok'' (''Ден и Ноќ''). The album included various songs which also became successful singles in Macedonia and other Balkan countries. Risteska is also an occasional songwriter, writing for artists such as 4Play, Lambe Alabakoski, Aleksandra Pileva, Maja Sazdanovska, Robert Bilbilov, Verica Pandilovska, Adnan, Emil and Anja Veterova.

Following the great success of her debut album, Elena began promoting herself outside of Macedonia. In 2004, she performed at the Golden Stag Festival in Braşov, Romania and in 2005 she performed "Ni na nebo, ni na zemja" ("Neither heaven nor earth") at the Sunčane Skale music festival in Herceg Novi, Montenegro. Elena’s music video was broadcast on MTV Adria and her popularity continued to grow.

Elena in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

On March 4, 2006, Elena Risteska won the Macedonia pre-selection contest for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Ninanajna". The song was composed and produced by Darko Dimitrov, with lyrics by Rade Vrčakovski. The song is an uptempo, pop song which includes elements of R&B;, disco and dance music. She made a video shot for the song together with the Macedonian production "Tomato". In the video she was presented as shiny care girl that wants love. Risteska qualified for the final, and after spending most of the night on the edge of the top ten (which would guarantee automatic final qualification for Macedonia in 2007), she eventually finished 12th with 66 points, the best finish for any musician representing Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest.

After Eurovision Song Contest - 2007

In July 2006, Elena performed "Ne Mogu" ("I Can’t" in Serbo-Croatian) at the Sunčane Skale festival where she placed 10th overall. Elena traveled to Yerevan, Armenia in September to perform as a guest in Armenia’s Eurovision 2006 representative Andre’s concert. She was well received by the audience, which was expected since her Eurovision song "Ninanajna" was a summer hit and a popular ringtone in Armenia. In October, Elena released a new single called "Esen Vo Mene" ("Autumn In Me"). The song was composed by Darko Dimitrov.

After her countless hits released in the past year, Elena's second album, ''192'', was released at the end of 2006. The album contains "Ninanajna", "Esen Vo Mene", a Macedonian version of "Ne Mogu" and new material. 192 is the three-digit telephone number for the police in Macedonia.

In 2007, Elena took part in Skopje Fest 2007, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Although she was not a performer this time, she wrote the lyrics for the song "Belo e se" ("Everything is White"), which was performed by Lambe Alabakoski and came in third place with 101 points. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, she delivered the results of the national Macedonian televoting during the final night.

Elena participated in the Radijski Festival on December 15, 2007 performing the song "Kreveta dva". It is the Serbian version of her song ''Ima li kraj''. Elena finished in second place together with Karolina Gočeva. Elena won two awards, one for best interpretation and the other from Radio OSM Pale. At the end of 2007 she realized her first Serbian language studio album called ''Milioner''. It contained nearly the same songs from "192" just re-recorded in Serbian (with exceptions some stayed as they were, in Macedonian).

2008 - present

In 2008 Elena released her first English single, "Million Dollar Player" (the English version of the popular song "Milioner"), with a music video. The video is a production of "Corrino Media Group" with drector Mike Static. Leroy Chambers ,author of the lyrics, takes part in the video as her "Millionaire".

After that Elena returned to older projects. She shout a video for the song "Nekade Daleku" from the album ''192''. Besides the Macedonian version, she shouted a video for the Serbian version of the same song called "Bye, Bye" included in the album ''Milioner''. Director of the video was Aleksandar Ristovski - Princ. In the middle time she made a new duet with "Parketi" called "Sakam Da Te Galam".

On 19 December 2008 Elena made her first sufficient concert in Skopje. It was held in Metropolis Arena and featured many guests as: Lambe Alabakovski, Tuna, Parketi, Regina and etc.

In 2009 she released a video for her song "Usni Kako Temno Mastilo". The same as her previous videos director was again Aleksandar Ristovski - Princ. On November 3, 2009 Elena released her single "Dosta" which is the first single from Elena's fourth studio album which will be released in 2010.On March 14, 2010 Elena released her second single of her fourth studio album named "Sakam Po Dobro Da Te Pamtam". Later that year Elena released her single "Srekna Nov Godina" (Happy New Year). 2010 was the year of the fourth M2 Search For A Star which was the show that Elena was discovered in , but this time Elena had the role of a judge along with Ivo Jankoski, Darko Dimitrov & Vesna Petrusevska.On the 24.06.2011 Elena & Lambe Alabakovski released their second duet titled "Najdobro Do Sega" (The Best Til Now), a music video was later recorded for the song which had already become a summer hit single.

Discography

Albums

''Den i Nok'' (2003)

''192'' (2006)

''Milioner'' (2008)

''Untitled Fourth Upcoming album'' (2011)

Compilations

''Play: Search for a new Star (Compilation)''

''Makedonija Zasekogaš''

Solo Singles

2002: "Ona Drugoto"

2003: "Den I Nok"

2003: "Raj I Pekol"

2003: "Vo Tvojot Svet" (with Adnan)

2003: "Ne Sakam Da Krijam"

2004: "Pobeda Za Nas" (with Emil Arsov)

2004: "Ni Na Nebo, Ni Na Zemja"

2006: "Ninanajna"

2006: "Ne Mogu"

2006: "Ljubav Nije Za Nas" (with Grupa Regina)

2006: "Esen Vo Mene"

2007: "192"

2007: "Milioner" (featuring Leroy Chambers)

2007: "Kreveta Dva"

2008: "Million Dollar Player

2008: "Nekade Daleku/Bye, Bye"

2008: "More Sokol Pie"

2008: "Sakam Da Te Galam" (with Parketi)

2009: "Usni Kako Temno Mastilo/Usne Boje Tamnog Mastila"

2009: "Dosta"

2010: "Sakam Po Dobro Da Te Pamtam"

2010: "Srekna Nova Godina"

Featured Singles

2006: "Zaspana Ubavica" feat. Vrčak

2006: "Na Nekoi Drugi Svetovi" (with Lambe Alabakoski feat. Vrčak)

2008: "Sakam Zeleno" (feat. other singers)

2008: "Come and Get Me" (with SnowBlack)

2009: "Icelenie" (feat. other singers)

2011: "Najdobro Do Sega" (with Lambe Alabakovski)

Awards

Golden Lady Bug

Discovery of the Year

2006:

Female Singer of the Year

Night of Stars

2004:

Most Attractive Singer of the Year

Sunčane Skale

2006:

Princeton Award for Debut of the Year

2007:

Duet of the Year: "Love Is Not For Us"

High School Union

Discovery of the Year

2006:

Most Successful Female Singer of the Year

Other awards

SMS Hit of the Year (as voted by the listeners of Antenna 5 radio)

Female Singer of the Year (as voted by the listeners of MS television)

2006:

Duet of the Year: "Ljubav Nije Za Nas" (Love is not for us)" (Oscar of Popularity)

Radijski Festival

2007:

The best interpretation

The award from Radio OSM Pale

External links

Elena Risteska official website

Ringeraja na gosti kaj Elena Risteska

Elena Risteska Fansite

Elena Risteska Fan Club

Official Facebook Fan Club

References

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:People from Skopje Category:Macedonian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2006 Category:Ethnic Macedonian people Category:Macedonian pop singers Category:Macedonian female singers Category:Macedonian songwriters Category:Macedonian Orthodox Christians Category:English-language singers

az:Elena Risteska bg:Елена Ристеска da:Elena Risteska de:Elena Risteska el:Έλενα Ρίστεσκα es:Elena Risteska fr:Elena Risteska it:Elena Risteska mk:Елена Ристеска arz:ايلينا ريستيسكا nl:Elena Risteska ja:エレナ・リステスカ pl:Elena Risteska ro:Elena Risteska sq:Elena Risteska sr:Елена Ристеска sh:Elena Risteska fi:Elena Risteska sv:Elena Risteska tr:Elena Risteska

Coordinates	28°36′36″N77°13′48″N
Name	Toše Proeski ''Тоше Проески''
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Todor Proeski
Alias	Toše
Born	January 25, 1981 in Prilep, Macedonia, (then SFR Yugoslavia)
Died	October 16, 2007Nova Gradiška, Croatia
Instrument	Keyboard, guitar, piano
Genre	Macedonian Traditional music, Classical music, Pop, Rock, Classic metal
Occupation	Singer/songwriter
Years active	1996–2007
Website	www.toseproeski.info
Past members	}}

Todor Toše Proeski ( ; January 25, 1981 – October 16, 2007) was a Macedonian multi-genre singer, songwriter and actor. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and all around Eastern Europe, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene. Proeski was known for his strong vocal performances and trademark quote ''ве сакам сите'' ("I love you all"), and was once dubbed "Elvis Presley of the Balkans" by BBC News. He died in a car crash in Croatia on October 16, 2007.

Biography

Early years

Proeski, was born in Prilep,SFR Yugoslavia (today Macedonia), to Dominika and Nikola Proeski from Kruševo, his hometown, where he spent most of his childhood. After his musical talent was discovered at the age of 12, he was chosen to perform at the popular children's song festival Zlatno Slavejče (eng.: Golden Nightingale) in Skopje, performing the song „Јаs i мојоt dеdо“ in Macedonian-Vlach also called Macedo-Roumanian or Aromanian language. This was his first public music performance; however, his successful career began in 1996 when he participated in the teenage music festival Melfest in Prilep.

Following this public exposure, he was awarded for his strong vocal capabilities. This led to his rise to fame when he participated in the music festival Makfest in Štip with the song "Pusti Me" ("Let Me Go") in 1997. His fanbase quickly grew and he continued to make use of festivals, such as SkopjeFest and OhridFest, as a platform for promotion and publicity. Proeski collaborated with one of Macedonia’s acclaimed lyricists and composers, Grigor Koprov, to produce some of the greatest hits of his career such as "Usni na Usni" ("Lips over Lips") and "Sonce vo Tvoite Rusi Kosi" ("Sun in Your Golden Hair"). In 1999, he released his debut album, ''Nekade vo Nokta'' (''Somewhere in the Night''), which contained eleven tracks. In the summer of the same year, Proeski performed his first solo concert in Skopje.

In 2000, Proeski participated in the Eurovision pre-selection for Macedonia in SkopjeFest. He sang "Solzi Pravat Zlaten Prsten" ("Tears Make a Golden Ring"), which won the televoting from the public but he finished third overall, behind Karolina Gočeva and the winners XXL. During that period, he began recording the tracks for his second album, ''Sinot Božji'' (''The Son of God''), which was promoted by the end of June 2000. The album brought some great hits, like "Nemir" ("Restless") (a duet with Karolina Gočeva), "Vo Kosi da ti Spijam" ("Sleeping in Your Hair"), "Izlaži me Ušte Ednaš" ("Lie to Me One More Time"), as well as "Iluzija" ("Illusion") (Grand Prix at the festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk) and "Tajno Moja" ("Secret of Mine"). Two songs are composed by Kire Kostov (winning second prize at the festival Sunčane Skale, held in Herceg Novi, now Montenegro).

The Serbian production house BK Sound purchased the rights to release Proeski's latest album in the other former Yugoslav republics, which led to his victory of the Oscar of Popularity in those former republics for the year of 2000, and his sell-out shows in Skopje and Belgrade. Proeski embarked on an Australian tour along with other Macedonian singers in 2001.

Superstardom

After spending his time in recording studios in Athens, Greece, Proeski released his third album "Ako me Pogledneš vo Oči" ("If You Look Into My Eyes") on October 2002 in Macedonian and Serbian. After the release, Proeski went on a tour throughout Macedonia doing intense promotion. He also went to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria for further promotion. Proeski won Beovizija in Belgrade on April 2003, with "Čija Si" ("To Whom Do You Belong?"), a song which became a huge hit in Macedonia and the other former republics. This song was due to represent Serbia and Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 but the EBU stated that too many countries wanted to enter in that year and so some would be forced to withdraw. Serbia and Montenegro (who participated as one country at the time) were one of them.

To improve his singing, Proeski took classes in New York from maestro William Riley, who was also coach to famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti. When he returned, Proeski held humanitarian concerts throughout Macedonia. He was awarded with the Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award and in 2003 he became a Regional UNICEF Ambassador. In 2004, MKTV chose Proeski to represent Macedonia at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul, Turkey, and in February, he performed eight songs, where a jury, televoting, and his own opinion chose the song. The song "Angel Si Ti" ("You’re an Angel") was chosen by all three. In April, Proeski released his album "Den Za Nas" ("A Day For Us"), which featured the eight songs from the Eurovision selection in Macedonian.

In May, Proeski finished 14th with the song "Life", which was the English version of "Angel Si Ti”. Prior to the contest he was popularised by reporters due to his tremendous opera singing ability, at his press conferences.

All eight songs were recorded in English, but only the winning song of the national final "Life" was released. During the TV national final show, after each song was performed, a clip of the song was played in English to show viewers how it would sound if that song won the contest and was performed in English at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 final.

In 2004 Proeski was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and recorded the song "This World" which became the UNICEF anthem. Proeski signed a contract with Dallas Records so his next album could be released in Croatia and Slovenia. To establish himself in these countries, Proeski recorded "Krajnje Vreme” with Slovenian singer, Anja Rupel. In 2005, Toše’s fifth album ''Po Tebe'' (''After You'') was released throughout ex-Yugoslavia. ''Po Tebe'', is one of the most successful Balkan albums ever. It topped music charts for months in the Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

''Božilak'' (''Rainbow''), was a compilation of 14 selected traditional Macedonian songs arranged by Sasa Nikolovski Gjumar, Ilija Pejovski and Soni Petrovski. The artist was backed up by a symphony orchestra on the album.

His last album ''Igri Bez Granici'' (Macedonian title)/'Igra Bez Granica' (Croatian title) ("Game Without Borders") was released all over ex-Yugoslavia in August, 2007.

Apart from songs in Macedonian, Croatian, Serbian, he also recorded one song in Slovene, "Moja" ("Mine") in 2007, and one in Italian, "Aria" ("Air"), with Italian superstar, Gianna Nannini. List of artist who collaborated with Proeski include Anja Rupel, Antonija Šola, Bora Čorba, Karolina Gočeva, Esma Redžepova, Gianna Nannini, Goca Tržan, Grigor Koprov, Jeff Beck, Tony Cetinski, Željko Joksimović and other notable musicians. Prior to his death, he was a student in his final year in the solo singing department of the Skopje Music Academy.

Songwriting

Proeski also established himself as a songwriter. He wrote several hits for himself including "Ima Li Dan Za Nas" ("Is There A Day For Us"), "Slusaš Li" ("Are You Listening"), "Malečka" ("Little One") and "Polsko Cveḱe" ("Field Flower"). In 2004, Proeski composed "Muza" ("Muse") for Martin Vučić, the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest representative for Macedonia. It became the title track for the young artist's second album. In interviews, Proeski stated that he had written over 100 songs but was waiting for the right moments to record them as they were still in demo form.

On October 15, Proeski gave his final interview to the Macedonian Television Station Kanal 5. He talked about his intention to finish his Musical Academy studies, his search for his soul mate, and his new album in the works.

Toše's last concert was held on October 5, 2007 for the Primary Education Project for USAID. The concert raised tens of thousands of euros for the primary schools of Macedonia. The concert was attended by over 35,000 people and viewed all over the world.

Death

During the early morning of October 16, 2007, at 6:20 a.m., Proeski died in a car accident on the Zagreb–Lipovac highway near Nova Gradiška, Croatia. He was a passenger along with his manager Ljiljana Petrović in a Volkswagen Touareg driven by Georgij Georgijevski. The Touareg crashed into the back of a truck and then into the median barrier, killing Proeski instantly, crushing the third vertebrae of the neck, although the truck sustained no damage. Proeski was asleep in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash. Of the other two passengers, only the driver suffered serious injuries (head trauma).

Proeski's body arrived at midnight in Skopje by helicopter of the Macedonian army, and was transported by car to his home town Kruševo. Grieving citizens gathered to pay their last respects at the airport and also in Macedonia Square. The Embassy of the United States of America, the USAID and the Diplomatic mission of the European Union published official statements on the death of Toše Proeski. October 17 was pronounced a national day of mourning in Macedonia. The three days following his death were pronounced days of mourning in the City of Kruševo.

After his death, the government of the Republic of Macedonia, gave him the title "Honorable citizen of Macedonia"

State funeral

The government organized an official state funeral for Proeski, which was held October 17, 2007 in his home town of Kruševo, including military honour ceremonies by the Honor Guard Unit of the Macedonian army, such as a honor guard, a military orchestra and a honorary rifle salute. The funeral, which was broadcast by the national Macedonian TV was attended by many domestic and foreign delegations, including the President Branko Crvenkovski, the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, members of the Macedonian Parliament and its President Ljubiša Georgievski and other high-ranking officials, the US and the EU Ambassadors Gillian Milovanovic and Erwan Fouéré and other diplomats, representatives of the Red Cross, the USAID and other organizations, sport clubs etc. Also, the funeral was attended by many notable musicians from Macedonia and other countries, including: Karolina Gočeva, Kaliopi, Vlado Janevski, Lambe Alabakoski, Elena Risteska, Jovan Jovanov, Martin Vučić, Adrian Gaxha, Tijana Dapčević and her sister Tamara Todevska, Aki Rahimovski (the frontman of Parni valjak), Toni Cetinski, Ceca Ražnatović, Željko Joksimović and many others. The religious service was held by the Macedonian Orthodox Church led by the Archbishop Stephen of Ohrid, as Proeski was a declared Orthodox Christian.

Numerous websites, blogs and internet forums are filled with the last messages from his fans and friends (example). A petition is available on-line for Toše Proeski to be remembered by naming educational facilities, like the local Center for Music Education in Bitola, where he had studied to carry his name. Also this petition is to promote an annual humanitarian concert, carrying his name "Toše Proeski" for the poor and disabled and those of desperate need of medical attention. Also, a page for condolences can be found at the Kruševo municipality official website.

An online petition was held for a tribute to be paid to Toše Proeski at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. It gathered over 13,900 signings however it was not honoured. Tamara Todevska, singer of the Macedonian Eurovision entry of this year said that their entry was dedicated to a few people including their "angel who is up there watching over us".

Tribute concerts

On the 5th October 2008, the anniversary of Proeski's last concert before his death a tribute concert was held in Skopje. Over twenty singers from various Balkan countries performed.

A documentary about the work of Toše Proeski was released on February 12, 2009 in cinemas all over former Yugoslavia.

Another concert was held on January 24, 2010, a day before Toše's birthday.

Gallery

Immediately after Toše Proeski's death was announced, the citizens of Skopje and people from all around Macedonia, as well as foreigners, started to gather at the Macedonia Square bringing candles, flowers and messages of condolence in his memory. Also many institutions such as schools, universities, sport clubs and business companies joined the spontaneous commemorative campaign. Similar gatherings took place in many other cities around the country, but also around the Balkans, especially in the former Yugoslav countries and the diaspora. A mourning ceremony was organized in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina near Skenderija, where around 2000 people gathered to light candles in memory of Toše Proeski.

Discography

Albums

''Nekade Vo Nokta''(Macedonian language) (1999)

''Sinot Božji'' (Macedonian language)(2000)

''Ako Me Pogledneš Vo Oči'' (Macedonian language version) /''Ako Me Pogledaš U Oči'' (Serbian language version) (2002)

''Den Za Nas'' (Macedonian language version) /''Dan Za Nas'' (Serbian language version) (2004)

''Po tebe'' (Macedonian language version)/''Pratim Te'' (Serbian language version) (2005)

''Božilak'' (Traditional Macedonian folk songs) (2006)

''Igri bez granici'' (Macedonian language version) /''Igra Bez Granica'' (Croatian language version) (2007)

''The Hardest Thing'' (2009) [post mortem] (English version)

''Tose i prijatelji (album)'' (2010) [post mortem] [Balkan language version]

''"Tose: Poslednji pozdrav" (album)'' (2011) [post mortem]

Filmography

''2006 Zabranjena Ljubav'' one episode #1.402 Mladic Bosko

''2004 Kako Ubiv Svetec'' Tose

''2007 Nad Lipom 35'' one episode #2.2 Himself

Singles chart positions

The song "Čija si" (English: "To Whom Do You Belong") is considered to be Toše's greatest hit. "Čija si" received huge chart success and radio airplay bringing Proeski from star to music icon. His chart toppers include:

Year	Single	Translation	Chart positions	Album
!width="35"	!width="35"	!width="35"	!width="35"	!width="35"	MTV Adria
	align="left"

:An em dash (—) indicates that the single did not chart.

See also

Music of Macedonia

References

External links

Official Website

Obituary from ''The Times''

Memory-of.com memorial site

Recording of the burial ceremony of Tose, Macedonian Radio Television

Category:1981 births Category:2007 deaths Category:People from Prilep Category:Macedonian Orthodox Christians Category:Aromanian people Category:Macedonian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2004 Category:Macedonian male singers Category:Macedonian pop singers Category:Road accident deaths in Croatia

az:Toşe Proeski bs:Toše Proeski bg:Тоше Проески de:Toše Proeski et:Toše Proeski el:Τόσε Πρόεσκι es:Toše Proeski eo:Toše Proeski fr:Toše Proeski hr:Toše Proeski io:Toše Proeski it:Toše Proeski ka:ტოშე პროესკი lt:Toše Proeski hu:Toše Proeski mk:Тоше Проески nl:Toše Proeski ja:トシェ・プロエスキ uz:Toše Proeski pl:Tosze Proeski crh:Toşe Proeski ro:Toše Proeski ru:Проески, Тоше sq:Toše Proeski cu:Тошѧ Проѥвьскꙑи sl:Toše Proeski sr:Тоше Проески sh:Toše Proeski fi:Toše Proeski sv:Toše Proeski tr:Toşe Proeski bat-smg:Toše Proeski

Coordinates	28°36′36″N77°13′48″N
name	Vlatko Stefanovski
| caption	Vlatko Stefanovski during a live performance
born	1957Prilep, Macedonia, Yugoslavia
genre	Ethno jazzInstrumental rockJazz fusion
associated acts	Leb i solMiroslav Tadić
label	Third Ear
notable instruments	Fender Telecaster, Gibson Les Paul, Radulović guitars
years active	1974 - present
website	Official website }}

Vlatko Stefanovski () is Macedonian ethno-rock jazz fusion guitar player.

Biography

Born in Prilep in 1957, he started playing guitar at the age of 13. Stefanovski was one of the founding members of Leb i sol with whom he recorded 13 albums between 1978 and 1991. He currently splits his time playing with his VS Trio, in an acoustic partnership with Miroslav Tadić or composing for film and theatre. He is the brother of dramatist Goran Stefanovski.

Stefanovski has played a wide variety of guitars, including a Gibson SG, a Fender Stratocaster - heavily modified with Schecter and Radulović parts, a Telecaster, a Radulović super-strat and a Pensa-Suhr super-strat. The influence of ethnic and folk music of Southeastern Europe and more specifically of the music of the Republic of Macedonia are recognizable in his occasional use of odd meters (5/4, 7/8) and non-traditional scales (e.g. the Phrygian dominant scale).

He played the guitar solo in the song "Za Milion Godina" by YU Rock misija, the former Yugoslav contribution to Bob Geldof's Band Aid.

Career Beginnings and the Invention of Ethno-Rock (1976-1979)

Stefanovski began to achieve fame in the Yugoslavian rock scene during his time with Leb i Sol, his third band. The band's first 1977 single Devetka/Nie Cetvoricata already showcased his guitar prowess, while Vlatko was still only 19 years old. They played their first major concert as an opening act for Bijelo Dugme, commonly regarded as Yugoslavia's most popular band. While the band was then virtually unknown, legend has it that the audience and Bijelo Dugme were both blown away by their performance of 'Kokoška' (Eng: 'Hen').

In his early years, Stefanovski is credited for inventing a style of music known as 'ethno-rock'. This style is characterized by a fusion of classic rock and roll with folk elements, in his case from his native Macedonia. This style dominates the first two albums, Leb i Sol 1 and Leb i Sol 2. Their third album, Ručni Rad (Eng: 'Hand-made') was a departure from this style into more of a jazz-rock fusion.

New Wave Phase (1980-1986)

After the departure of keyboardist Kokan Dimuševski from Leb i Sol, the band began to develop a new wave style more in line with Azra, Haustor, and other popular bands in Yugoslavia at the time. They maintained some elements of their earlier ethno style, as evidenced for example in their rendition of Macedonian folk son 'Ajde Sonce Zajde' on the album Bezkonačno (Eng: 'Infinity').

Pop Rock Phase (1987-1991)

In the late 80s Stefanovski began to take more artistic control over Leb i Sol, writing nearly all of their songs. These later albums used vocals on all songs, as opposed to their earlier albums, in which nearly every song was instrumental.

End of Leb i Sol & Solo Beginnings (1991-1995)

During this period, Stefanovski began working more on side projects, including composing scores for movies and plays, and collaborating with other musicians. During this time he toured with Leb i Sol, but the band did not release any new albums. The only new material they released was their rendition of Macedonian folk classic 'Uči me majko, karaj me' (Eng: teach me mother, scold me).

During this time, Stefanovski also released his first solo album, Cowboys & Indians. It received moderate critical acclaim. Some songs off the album still make regular appearances in his set lists today, including the title track and the ballad 'Kandilce'.

Folk Revival, VS Trio, and more Solo Works(1996-)& Equipment

Since leaving Leb i Sol, Stefanovski has used his new found freedom to pursue a myriad of other musical projects. Since 1998, he has toured and played Macedonian folk songs exclusively with fellow guitarist Miroslav Tadić. Unlike his previous works, these have been played mostly on acoustic guitar.

Stefanovski went back to his early ethno-rock roots from Leb i Sol with his VS Trio. Their debut album in 1998 received great critical acclaim and helped define the new Vlatko Stefanovski sound.

Stefanovski recorded several solo albums under his own name during this time period. The sound on these albums ranged from pop on 'Kula od Karti' (Eng: 'Tower of Cards') to pure blues on 'Thunder From the Blue Sky'.

In 2006, he did a reunion tour with Leb i Sol, touring the former Yugoslavian countries. After the tour, the band resumed without Stefanovski.

Equipment

Vlatko Stefanovski has been using variety of guitars and amps.His favourite guitars include Gibson Les Paul Custom 1959, Gibson SG, Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, Pensa Suhr, Gibson L-5, Radulovic guitars, Yamaha, Hamer, MK guitars signature and his main guitar Pensa Suhr Signature VS. The amps which he uses on concerts are: Vox AC30, Fender '57 Twin, MK signature VS Overdrive special, Fender Deluxe Reverb 57', Fender Hot Road Deville, and Marshall JCM800.

Effects

Actually he didn't use so much effects but one of his main effects are Fulltone Full-Drive Mosfet 2 10th Anniversary,Dunlop Crybaby,Boss DD-7,Boss CH-1,Boss CS-3,Turbo Rat.

Discography and work

Recordings

#Zodiac (with Bodan Arsovski - Third ear music -1990) #Cowboys & Indians (Third ear music -1994) #Sarajevo (Third ear music -1996) #Gypsy Magic (Third ear music -1997) #Krushevo (with Miroslav Tadić - MA recordings - 1998) #V. S. Trio (Third ear music - 1998) #Live in Belgrade (with Miroslav Tadić - Third ear music - 2000) #Journey to the Sun (IFR - Kalan -2000) #Kino Kultura (Third ear music -2001) #Kula od karti (Avalon Production -2003) #Treta majka (with Miroslav Tadić - Avalon Production -2004) #Thunder From The Blue Sky (with Jan Akkerman)

Film scores

''Šmeker'' (Zoran Amar, 1985)

''Za sreću je potrebno troje'' (Rajko Grlić,1986)

''Zaboravljeni'' (Darko Bajić,1989)

''Klopka'' (Suada Kapić,1990)

''Početni udarac'' (Darko Bajić,1991)

''Suicide guide'' (Erbil Altanaj,1996)

''Nebo gori modro'' (Jure Pervanje,1996)

''Gipsy magic'' (Stole Popov,1997)

''3 Summer Days'' (Mirjana Vukomanović,1997)

''Journey to the Sun'' (Yesim Ustaoglu 1998)

''Skyhook'' (Ljubiša Samardžić, 2000)

''Serafim, the Lighthouse Keeper's Son'' (Vicko Ruić, 2002)

Ballet

#Zodiac (with Bodan Arsovski 1989) #Vakuum (1996) #Dabova šuma (1998)

Animated films

#Cirkus (Darko Markovic, 1979) with LEB I SOL #Vjetar (Goce Vaskov, 1990)

Short films

#Volim vodu (Goranka Greif Soro, 2002)

Recordings with Leb i sol

#Leb i sol (PGP-RTB -1978) #Leb i sol 2 (PGP-RTB -1978) #Ručni rad (PGP-RTB -1979) #Beskonačno (PGP-RTB -1980) #Sledovanje (PGP-RTB -1981) #Akustična trauma (PGP-RTB - double live -1982) #Kalabalak (Jugoton -1983) #Tangenta (Jugoton -1984) #Zvučni zid (Jugoton -1985) #Kao kakao (Jugoton -1987) #Putujemo (Jugoton -1989) #Live in New York (Third ear music -1991) #Anthology (Third ear music -1995)

Videos

Youtube Search (vlatko+stefanovski)

Youtube Search (vlatko+tadic)

Youtube Search (vlatko+Pajduskoto)

Vlatko Stefanovski trio - Čukni vo drvo

Vlatko Stefanovski trio & Jan Akkerman - Hocus Pocus

References

External links

Vlatko Stefanovski home page

Vlatko Stefanovski: Until I Satisfy My Artistic Appetite - A short biography and an interview

{{s-ttl|title= Serbian Oscar Of Popularity''The Concert of the Year''with Stefan Milenković |years=2010}}

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:People from Prilep Category:Macedonian guitarists Category:Yugoslav musicians

fr:Vlatko Stefanovski hr:Vlatko Stefanovski mk:Влатко Стефановски sr:Влатко Стефановски

Miroslav Tadic is a classically trained guitarist from Serbia.

Miroslav Tadić is a classically trained guitarist from the former Yugoslavia who is widely admired both for the individuality of his performance style as well as for his fluency in a variety of different musical idioms. In addition to a longstanding collaboration with drummer Mark Nauseef, Mr. Tadić has performed and recorded with Terry Riley, The Los Angeles Opera with Placido Domingo, Howard Levy, Joachim Kühn, Dusan Bogdanovic, Vlatko Stefanovski, Theodosii Spasov, Kudsi Erguner, Djivan Gasparyan, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, L. Shankar, Markus Stockhausen, Maria João, David Torn, Jack Bruce and The Grande Mothers Reinvented, among others. He is frequently heard in Europe, Japan and the United States.

In the January 1997 issue, the editors of ''Guitar Player magazine'' voted Miroslav Tadić one of the world's thirty most radical and individual guitarists. Most recently, Tadić has been exploring Macedonian music in his recent work with guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski and vocalist Vanja Lazarova.

Additionally, Tadić has taught guitar at the California Institute of the Arts since 1985 in Valencia, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.

External links

www.miroslavtadic.com (altern)

Bio at homepage

Interview

Category:Serbian classical guitarists Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people

de:Miroslav Tadić fr:Miroslav Tadić