Sveta obitelj (The Holy Family) (2013)

Tomislav Ante Vođaković (b. 1996) — Sveta obitelj (The Holy Family) (2013) for organ

“Sveta obitelj” (The Holy Family) (2013) is a rhapsody based on three Eastern European Christmas carols: a Polish hymn to the Virgin Mary, a Slovak carol in honor of St. Joseph, and a Croatian carol celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus.

Tomislav Ante Vođaković (b. 1996) is the pen name of Thomas Vodzak, a composer and organist of Polish heritage from Slovakia. He was born in Spišská Nová Ves (Slovakia) and grew up in Smižany. He studied organ at the Lausanne (Switzerland) Conservatory (HEMU) in the class of Jean-Christophe Geiser. Stylistically, Vodzak’s music is an outgrowth of the distinctly Eastern European 20th century musical tradition with its emphasis on non-developmental mosaic forms and particular harmonic structures. His own personal style draws influence from the work of Marian Sawa, Anđelko Klobučar, István Koloss, and Ilja Zeljenka. Vodzak’s body of work as composer includes numerous pieces for organ along with chamber, vocal, and instrumental music.