20 COMPETITORS VIE FOR THE TITLE OF BEST GUSLE PLAYER

PALE, MAY 30 /SRNA/ - Pale is hosting the Festival of Gusle Players of Republika Srpska, one of the most significant events dedicated to preserving Serbian tradition and cultural heritage, where 20 gusle players are competing for the title of the best.

The gusle is one of the greatest national treasures of the Serbian people and a significant part of their cultural heritage, pointed out the president of the Alliance of Gusle Player Associations of Republika Srpska, Boško Golijanin.

He noted that 38 gusle players performed in the semifinal evening, 20 of whom secured a spot in the finals, and that he is especially pleased by the fact that the number of young people getting involved in preserving this tradition is growing year by year.

He emphasized that the gusle is the poetry of the Serbian people and one of the most important guardians of Serbian tradition, history, and cultural identity; and that through traditional epic poems, the memory of heroes, sufferings, and the struggle for freedom has been preserved, as well as the wisdom that has been a guiding light for generations in difficult times.

The president of the Festival's jury, ethnomusicologist Zorana Guja Dražeta, pointed out that it is an honor for her to be in this position, but also a responsibility, especially because she comes from a region with a strong gusle tradition.

She explained that a good gusle player must have a high-quality performance, a good story and lyrics, and present the epic expression and tradition in the right way.

"This was also demonstrated during the semifinal evening, where one could hear very high-quality performances that preserve the essence of gusle playing, although the manner of performance has changed over time," stated Dražeta.

According to her, alongside playing the gusle, national costumes, stage performance, and the overall experience through which the cultural heritage of the Serbian people is presented to the audience are also important.

"The gusle has a future because we have good youth and young people who show an interest in our culture and tradition. Precisely thanks to them, this significant part of folk heritage will continue to live on in future generations," said Dražeta.

The Mayor of Pale municipality, Dejan Kojić, reminded that after 14 years, Pale is once again hosting the Festival of Gusle Players of Republika Srpska and wished the finalists luck.

He noted that the technical organizer is the Gusle Society "Starina Novak," which has existed for 49 years and will mark half a century of work next year.

Gusle player Miloš Parević from the Gusle Society "Nevesinjska puška" from Nevesinje assessed that the gusle has an immeasurable historical, cultural, and artistic significance, and that it is particularly important that young people are increasingly getting involved in preserving this tradition.

"In our society, we have about 12 young gusle players, and several of them are well on their way to becoming top-tier. Success requires work, persistence, and talent," stated Parević, who is presenting himself to the audience in Pale with a song by Radovan Bećirović Trebješki.