Tome Mančev

Tome Mančev was born 1950 in Gevgelija (Macedonia) and is a composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed in Asia, USA, Australia and Europe. Prof. Mančev studied at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and there earned his BMus in pedagogy in 1973, BMus in music theory and pedagogy in 1975, then studied composition there with Vlastimir Nikolovski and earned his BMus in 1979. He later studied composition and other subjects with Jiří Dvořáček at the Akademie múzických umění v Praze – Academy of Performing Arts in Prague from 1980–81, on a fellowship, and from 1982-1988 studied composition – umelecka aspirantura with Jiří Dvořáček and Josef Ceremuga. Later he studied orchestration with Dimitar Sagaev at the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music in Sofia from 1995–99, where he earned his Dr sci.

Among his honours are Third Prize twice in the competition for choral music TEHO in Tetovo (1978, for Harvester, Op. 10; 1990, for War, Op. 8), the Panče Pešev Prize for the best macedonian composition three times from the Macedonian Composers Association in Skopje (1989, for Symphony No. 2, 'Paganophony', Op. 23; 1995, for Old Song, Op. 27; 2002, for Exodus, Op. 30), Life achievement award from the society of music pedagogues/teachers of R Macedonia (2014) and Trajko Prokopiev for life achievement from the Macedonian Composers Association in Skopje (2015).

He has taught composition, instrumentation and orchestration, music instruments, technique of XX century composition, music analysis at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University since 1990, where he has been Professor of Composition since 2000, on undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies.

The Macedonian musicologist and critic Marko Kolovski wrote the following words about the life and works of Tome Mančev:

"Prof. Dr. Tome Mančev is a representative of the Macedonian national composer school, artist with extremely significant opus (numerous performed, recorded and printed works in the country and abroad). Mančev's compositional and orchestral technique, deep inspiration from the folk music tradition, neat diversity achieved through highly original harmonic language and polyphonic technique, are all attributes derived from his in-depth knowledge of all compositional and orchestral styles (from Baroque to contemporary music). His musical speech pervades the dramatic and emotional content of his works in a way that creates a deeply expressive tonus as a cardiogram, which reflects "Macedonia's breath and soul". This expression is achieved through original use of musical instruments, music forms, harmony, polyphony and orchestration - with an aim of creating emotional counterpoint and professional mastery. Tome Mančev has contributed significantly to the field of music and theory as author of several important books and papers on musicology and orchestration, printed in single editions, or in other publications. Some of these publications are compulsory literature for music students in Macedonia. His exceptional knowledge and experience in all areas of music culture are passed to his many undergraduate, master and doctoral students at the faculty of music in Skopje where, for almost four decades he has been teaching composition, orchestration, orchestral styles, musical instruments, 21st century compositional techniques, analysis of music works and methodology of scientific research. Tome Mančev is a prominent social activist in Macedonia's music culture and an active member at the most important music institutions in the country."

(written by Marko Kolovski)

The work list of Tome Mančev include several symphonies, symphonic poems, a sinfonietta and other orchestral works, a violin concerto, chamber music like a Violin and a Piano sonata, as well as choral and vocal works.

The "Concerto for violin and orchestra op.22" was composed in 1985. The premiere took place in 1986 by the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra with violinist Ratka Dimitrova and was conducted by Igor Dzadrov. The full score of the work can be downloaded below in two versions: The first file is the typeset score, the second is the scan of the handwritten manuscript.

And below the original autograph manuscript: