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Jani Golob
Jani Golob
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Jani Golob (born 18 January 1948) is a Slovenian composer, violinist, arranger and professor.

His music opus is often on the thin line of classic, pop and jazz. Golob has composed operas, ballets, orchestral works, chamber and vocal music,[1] as well as numerous Slovenian film scores,[2] and music for television and for advertising purposes. His most important works are probably three operas: Krpan's mare (1992), Medeja (1999) and Love Capital (2010); and others as Four Slovene Folk Songs (1979 and 2005), Concerto for violin and orchestra (1998) and ballet The Baptism at the Savica (1989). He is most recognized by his contribution in Slovenian popular music.[3]

His internationally best-known piece of work is the unofficially named "Planica Slow Motion Theme" (1997), an instrumental piece of music played in slow motion replays annually on worldwide broadcasting of FIS Ski Jumping/Flying World Cup events from Planica, Slovenia. Especially because of this melody Golob became famous worldwide. Each year since 1997 this piece of music is played in Planica slow motion replays live to millions of people worldwide.

Other hit songs are "Prisluhni školjki/A Song In a Seashell" (1985), "Moja dežela/My Country" (1986) and "Pustite nam ta svet/Leave Us This World" (1987), popular especially in Slovenia. In 1971 he also arranged music for the song Sejem želja/Scarborough Fair with Slovenian lyrics of this original English folk ballad. He is the arranger of the most common used orchestrated version of the Slovenian national anthem "Zdravljica", used in protocol, sports and other big events.[4]

In 1973 he acted in a film called Ljubezen na odoru (Love on the Furrows).[5]

Golob has the ability of absolute pitch. When he was younger he would write music in notes just by listening and memorizing it.[6]

He is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.[7]

Career

[edit]

In the 1960s he founded Slovene pop band Delial, in which he played bass guitar. He studied violin with graduate education in 1971 and with musical composition in 1977 at the Ljubljana Academy of Music. At first he was mainly an arranger and later started writing his own compositions. From 1998 to 2000 he was professor of music composition and theory at the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television in Ljubljana (AGRFT).[1] From then on he has been a professor of musical composition at the Ljubljana Academy of Music. Between 2002 and 2006 he was the president of Society of Slovene Composers.

Golob's compositions are performed by the most important Slovene ensembles and orchestras and also different important European artists, such as Slovakian State Philharmony Košice and Berlin Symphony Orchestra, with their conductors George Pehlivanian, En Shao, David de Villiers, and Carl Davis.

He was a member of many international music juries at various European festivals:

His son Rok Golob is also a Slovene composer.[4]

Awards and prizes

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He has received many Slovenian and international awards in classic and in popular music:[4][8]

  • In 1975, 1976 and 1980 he won the Golden Medal for the best arrangement at the Slovene Song Festival.
  • In 1977 he won the Prešeren Award of University of Ljubljana for "Concertino for big orchestra" and the Silver Medal at the Slovene Song Festival.
  • In 1978 in Bratislava he won third prize in the Grand Prix de Musique Folklorique de Radio Bratislava for "Sv. Sintilawdič".
  • In 1980 he won the Second and third prize of the Expert Jury at the Slovene Song Festival.
  • In 1983 he won the Župančič Prize for "Four Slovene Folk Songs for stings".
  • In 1986 and 1988 he won the Metod Badjura Recognition Award.
  • In 1987 in Cannes he won the collective prize at the Prix National at the 34ème Festival du Film Publicitaire Cinema & Television Cannes for "The Guests are Coming", part of the project "Slovenia, My Country", and won the first prize for it at the festival of tourism short films in Berlin.
  • In 2000 he won the Prešeren Fund Prize for "Violin Concerto".
  • In 2012 he won the Kozina Award for lifetime achievements in music from the Society of Slovene Composers.

Selected works

[edit]

Orchestral music

[edit]
Year Original title English title Title continues
1977 Concertino Concertino for big orchestra
Nokturno Nocturne for string orchestra
1978 Sveti Sintilawdič Sveti Sintilawdič for chamber orchestra
1979 Komorna glasba Chamber Music for orchestra
Štiri ljudske pesmi Four Folk Songs for string orchestra
1980 Uvertura Overture for symphony orchestra
Elegija Elegy for flugelhorn and string orchestra
1982 Koncertantna glasba Concertante Music for woodwind quintet and orchestra
1984 Svatbeni ples Wedding Dance for two clarinets and string orchestra
1985 Mi za mir We for Peace for chamber orchestra (40th anniversary of UN)
1988 Rezijski ples Rezian Dance for two Rezian fiddlers and string orchestra
1990 Slovenska rapsodija Slovenian Rhapsody for orchestra
1992 Koncert Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra
1993 Hommage Rahmaninovu Hommage Rahmaninovu for symphony orchestra
1995 Variacije Variations for violin, piano and orchestra
1996 Introdukcija Introduction for alt saxophone and string orchestra
Introdukcija Introduction for alt saxophone and saxophone orchestra
1998 Koncert Concerto for violin and orchestra
Concertino Concertino za flute and string orchestra
1999 Romanca in humoreska Romance and Humoresque for violin and string orchestra
Upanje Hope for symphony orchestra
Fanfare Fanfares for wind orchestra
2000 Concerto grosso Concerto grosso for chamber quartet and wind orchestra
Nostalgija Nostalgia for two violas and string orchestra
Passacaglia Passacaglia za violino, violo, violončelo in orkester
2000 Koncert Concertino for cello and string orchestra
2001 Koncert Concertino for cello and string orchestra
2004 Allegro festivo Allegro festivo for wind orchestra
Tri epizode Three Episodes for horn and orchestra
2005 The Night Shift The Night Shift for brass quintet and wind orchestra
Štiri slovenske ljudske pesmi Four Slovene Folk Songs for symphony orchestra
Štiri prekmurske ljudske pesmi Four Prekmurje Folk Songs za tenor, violino in orkester
2006 Tempered Tempered for chamber ensemble and string orchestra
Zlatorog Zlatorog ballet suite
2007 Missa in Do Missa in Do for soloists, mixed choir, organ and orchestra
- Vöra bije, sunce mi zahaja My Time Has Come, My Sun Has Gone for chamber orchestra
- Cool Voices Cool Voices for string orchestra

Vocal

[edit]
Year Original title English title Title continues
1981 Stara Ljubljana Old Ljubljana cantata for youth choir, recitator and chamber orchestra
1984 Zreilo je žito Wheat Has Ripened for alto, ocarina, hammered dulcimer, percussion and string orchestra
Ne ouri ne sejaj Ne ouri ne sejaj for alto and string orchestra
1986 Neznani materi To the Unknown Mother for baritone and string orchestra
1988 Tisti čas That Time Song Cycle for alto and string orchestra
1989 Lovec na ljudi Man Hunter for alto and string orchestra
1995 Quo vadis, Domine Quo vadis, Domine for tenor, mixed choir organ orchestra
2005 Vaje v slogu Exercises in Style variations on Slovenian folk song for mixed choir and chamber orchestra

Choral

[edit]
Year Original title English title Title continues
1979 Mesto The City for mixed chorus
1980 Kata, Katalena Kata, Katalena for 12 voices
1988 Mesto The City for male chorus

Opera and ballet

[edit]
Year Original title English title Note
1985 Urška in povodni mož Ursula and the Water Sprite ballet in 6 scenes
1989 Krst pri Savici The Baptism at the Savica ballet
1992 Krpanova kobila Krpan's Mare opera buffa in 3 acts
1994 Matiček se ženi Matiček's Wedding ballet in 3 scenes
1999 Medeja Medeja opera
2004 Ivana Ivana dance puppet show for adults
2010 Ljubezen kapital Love Capital opera in 3 acts

Chamber music

[edit]
Year Original title English title Title continues
1977 Poema Poema for woodwind quintet
Andante Andante for string quartet
Romanca Romance for viola and piano
1978 Komorna glasba Chamber Music for 11 instruments
Balada Ballad for trumpet (or flugelhorn) and piano
1979 Capriccio Capriccio for soprano saxophone, double bass and percussion
Glasba Music for bassoon and piano
Skica Sketch for flute and piano
1980 Passacaglia Passacaglia for piano quartet
1981 Groteska Grotesque for clarinet and piano
Dialog Dialogue for violin and guitar
Capriccio Capriccio for trumpet and piano
1982 Tri skladbe Three Pieces for violin and piano
Igre Games for recorder, violin and cello
Glasba Music for oboe (or English horn) and harp
1983 Dve skladbi Two Pieces for cello and piano
Tri skladbe Three Pieces for horn and piano
Melodija Melody for cello and piano
Glasba Music for flute and piano
Glasba Music for accordion and cello
1984 Trio 84' Trio 84' for violin, viola and cello
Dialog Dialogue for flute and viola
Iz dnevnika padlega partizana Iz dnevnika padlega partizana for bass, violin, viola, cello and piano
Tri pesmi Three songs for bass, cello and piano
1985 Dialogi Dialogues for two violins
Sonatina Sonatina for violin and piano
Sonata št. 1 Sonata No.1 for violin and piano
1986 Sonata št. 2 Sonata No.2 for violin and piano
Gozd Forest for horn and organ
Uvodna glasba Introduction Music for 4 horns
Tri pesmi Three Songs for tenor, violin and piano
1987 Godalni kvartet št. 1 String Quartet No.1 -
Godalni kvartet št. 2 String Quartet No.2 -
Koral Choral for brass quintet and organ
Tri miniature Three Miniatures for double bass and piano
Tri pesmi Three Songs for mezzo-soprano, violin and guitar
Monolog Monologue for clarinet, percussion and tape
1988 Tri variacije Three Variations for cello and piano
1990 Concertino Concertino for guitar and string quartet
Toccata Toccata for two pianos and percussion
1991 The Seventh Avenue Blues The Seventh Avenue Blues for violin and piano
Sonata Sonata for cello and piano
1992 Glasba Music for alto saxophone and piano
1993 Bagatela Bagatelle for recorder and piano
Humoreska Humoresque for clarinet and piano
Igre Games for two cellos and organ
Tri skladbe Three Pieces for horn, trumpet, trombone and piano
Človek zmaguje ali zgodba neke ozdravitve Man Wins or the Story of a Cure for woodwind quintet
Dve bagateli Two Bagatelles for two violins, cello and organ
1994 Bagatela Bagatelle for trumpet and organ
Balada Ballade for saxophone ensemble
Igre Games for violin, guitar and accordion
1995 Godalni kvartet št. 3 String Quartet No.3 -
1999 Glasba Music for flute and piano
2000 Romanca Romance for violin and piano
2002 Danubiana Danubiana for seven performers
Passacaglia in Toccata Passacaglia in Toccata for string quartet
2003 In blue In blue for alto saxophone, string quartet and double bass
2005 Glasba Music for flute and piano
2006 Invokacija Invocation for chamber ensemble
TASF (Moderato assai Ritmico) TASF (Moderato assai Ritmico) for brass ensemble
2007 Sence Shadows for chamber orchestra
2008 Koncertantne epizode Koncertantne epizode for violin and chamber orchestra
2008-09 Slovenska fantazija Slovenian Fantasy for flute and piano
2009 Tri bagatele Three Bagatelles for harp and chamber orchestra
- Capriccio Capriccio percussion, soprano-saxophone and double bass

Works for solo instruments

[edit]
Year Original title English title Title continues
1978 Sonatina Sonatina for violin solo
1979 Valse Valse for piano
Etuda Etude for percussion
1981 Preludij Prelude for accordion
1983 Improvizacija Improvisation for double bass solo
1984 Dve romanci Two Romances for violoncello solo
1987 Slovenska rapsodija Slovene Rhapsody for guitar
2005 Tri etude Three Etudes for guitar
2007 Tri skladbe Three Pieces for piano

Television

[edit]

Film scores

[edit]
Year Original title English title
1983 Dih
1984 Leta odločitve The Years of Decision
Veselo gostivanje
1985 Poletje v školjki A Summer in a Sea-Shell
1986 Heretik Heretic
1987 Čisto pravi gusar A Real Pirate
1988 Poletje v školjki II A Summer in a Sea-Shell II
Odpadnik The Maverick
1989 Coprnica Zofka Sophie the Witch
Nekdo drug Someone Else
1999 Patriot
2005 Predmestje Suburbs
2008 Videvanje Van Gogha Seeing Van Gogh
2010 Črni bratje Black Brothers

TV music

[edit]
Year Original title English title Note
1982 Živeti, živeti Desire for Life short documentary
Zmaga Victory short documentary
Slike iz leta 1941 short documentary
1983 Putovanje plavog lonca Trip of a Blue Pot short animated
1984 Strici so mi povedali TV series
Kasač documentary short
Kugy children's TV series
Gorenčev vrag children's TV series
1986 Primož Trubar TV series
Slovenija, moja dežela Slovenia, My land for ad Gostje prihajajo
1987 Dopust Holiday TV film
1988 Bronasti vijak Bronze Screw TV series
1991 Ljubezen po kranjsko Love, Kranj Style TV film
1992 Portret Jožeta Galeta Portrait of Jože Gale documentary short
1996 Domače obrti na Slovenskem - Krovci Handcrafts in Slovenia - Roofers TV documentary short
Domače obrti na Slovenskem - Kamnarji in kamnoseki Handcrafts in Slovenia - Stonecutters and Stonemasons TV documentary short
Domače obrti na Slovenskem - Puškarji Handcrafts in Slovenia - Gunmakers TV documentary short
1997 Planica slow motion music (ski flying)
Pesem od Ludomorca The Ballad of the Butcherman short film
2006 Sejalci svetlobe TV film
Sejalci besed TV film
En dan resnice One Day of Truth fiction short
2011 Slovenci in 1. svetovna vojna Slovenia and World War I documentary (in production)

Hit singles

[edit]
Year Original English Performed by
1971 "Sejem želja" Scarabough Fair Delial
1985 "Prisluhni školjki" "Song to a Seashell" Black & White
1986 "Moja dežela" "My Country" Oto Pestner ft. Strune
1987 "Pustite nam ta svet" "Leave Us This World" Vlado Kreslin ft. RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra
1997 "Planica Slow Motion Music" "Planica Slow Motion Music" Jani Golob

Discography

[edit]
  • Jani Golob - skladatelj, 1988 (LP)
  • Glasba iz filma Poletje v školjki I. in II., 1986 (cassette)
  • Sklicujem zborovanje, šansoni, 1987 (cassette)
  • Pusti pevcu peti, Prešernove pesmi, 1991 (cassette)
  • Pevca pesem sladka, Prešernove pesmi, 1991 (cassette)
  • Škofjeloški pasijon, 1992 (double cassette)
  • Jani Golob - skladatelj, 1994 (CD)
  • Lepa Vida, glasba iz predstave, 1995 (CD)

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jani Golob is a Slovenian composer, violinist, arranger, and professor known for his versatile body of work that bridges classical music with elements of pop, jazz, and film scoring. Born on 18 January 1948 in Ljubljana, he graduated in violin in 1971 and in composition in 1977 from the Ljubljana Academy of Music. In the 1960s, Golob founded the pop band Delial, where he played bass guitar, before transitioning to arranging and original composition. He served as professor of composition and theory at the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television from 1998 to 2000 and has been a professor of musical composition at the Ljubljana Academy of Music since 1998. From 2002 to 2006, he was president of the Society of Slovene Composers, and he has been a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts since 1992. Golob's compositions span operas such as Krpan’s Mare (1992), Medeja (1999), and Love Capital (2010); the ballet The Baptism at the Savica (1989); orchestral and chamber works including the Violin Concerto (1998); and vocal pieces, including his arrangement of the Slovenian national anthem Zdravljica, the most commonly used orchestrated version in official and sports events. He is also renowned for his film scores, contributing to notable Slovenian films including Poletje v školjki (1985), Čisto pravi gusar (1987), and Predmestje (2004). Among his popular contributions are songs like Prisluhni školjki (1985) and the internationally recognized Planica Slow Motion Theme (1997), used in ski jumping broadcasts. His work has earned several honors, including the Prešeren Fund Prize in 2000 for his Violin Concerto and the Kozina Award for lifetime achievement from the Society of Slovene Composers in 2012. Golob's music has been performed by major Slovenian and international ensembles, including the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Slovak State Philharmonic Košice.

Early life and education

Birth and early years

Jani Golob was born on January 18, 1948, in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, which was then part of Yugoslavia. As a native of Ljubljana, he grew up in the Slovenian cultural environment of the post-war Yugoslav era. From a young age, Golob possessed absolute pitch, enabling him to transcribe music in notation simply by listening and memorizing it. In the 1960s, he founded the Slovene pop band Delial, where he played bass guitar.

Education and training

Jani Golob received his formal musical education at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He completed his degree in violin in 1971. Continuing his studies there, he pursued composition and earned his degree in this field in 1977 under the mentorship of Professor Uroš Krek.

Career

Violin performance and early musical activities

Jani Golob's early musical activities centered on performance roles in popular and jazz ensembles during the 1960s. He founded the Slovene pop band Delial and played bass guitar in the group. Golob pursued formal violin training at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, where he completed his graduate education in violin in 1971. Following his studies, he performed as a violinist in the Symphony Orchestra of RTV Ljubljana from 1972 to 1987. These experiences marked his initial phase as a performer before his focus shifted toward composition studies in the 1970s.

Composition and arranging

Jani Golob's work as a composer and arranger is distinguished by its frequent blending of classical traditions with elements of pop and jazz, with his musical opus often situated on the thin line between these genres. This crossover approach manifests in a wide stylistic range that incorporates folk-inspired material, light-entertainment influences, and occasional jazz sensibilities, resulting in diverse outputs across orchestral, chamber, vocal, choral, operatic, and ballet compositions. Golob first gained recognition in the 1970s primarily as an arranger, receiving several awards for his work at the Slovene Song Festival, including the Golden Medal of SOKOJ for best arrangement in 1975, 1976, and 1980. After graduating in composition from the Ljubljana Academy of Music in 1977, he established himself as a prolific composer while continuing his arranging activities, contributing significantly to Slovenian popular music through orchestrated versions of key national and popular repertoire. His post-graduation career has featured an extensive body of non-film works, including multiple concertos, extensive chamber music, vocal-instrumental pieces often rooted in literary or folk sources, and larger-scale forms such as operas and ballets. His compositional and arranging endeavors have also extended into film and television scoring.

Film and television scoring

Jani Golob has been a prolific composer for Slovenian film and television since the early 1980s, contributing scores to a wide range of productions including feature films, television movies, series, documentaries, and shorts. His work is particularly prominent in Slovenian cinema of the Yugoslav era, where he frequently scored youth-oriented and family films that became popular among audiences. Among his notable contributions are the scores for Dih (A Breath of Air, 1983), Veselo gostivanje (The Merry Wedding, 1984), Odpadnik (The Maverick, 1988), and Nekdo drug (Someone Else, 1989). He also composed for the iconic youth film Poletje v školjki (A Summer in a Sea Shell, 1985) and its sequel Poletje v školjki 2 (1988), as well as other titles such as Coprnica Zofka (1989), Heretik (1986), and Čisto pravi gusar (1987). Golob's television credits include music for series and movies like Strici so mi povedali (1983), Primož Trubar (1986), Bronzová spirála (1988), and Ljubezen po kranjsko (1991). Later in his career, he scored films such as Predmestje (Suburbs, 2004) and various documentaries including Črni bratje (2010) and General Boroević (2019). His extensive body of work underscores his longstanding role in shaping the sound of Slovenian audiovisual storytelling. In recognition of his film music, Golob received the Metod Badjura Recognition Award (Jury Award) for best score in 1988 at the 16th Week of Slovenian Film.

Academic career

Teaching positions and pedagogy

Jani Golob has served as a professor of composition and music theory at the Academy of Music of the University of Ljubljana since 1998. He holds the title of zaslužni profesor (emeritus professor). He was head of the Department of Composition and Music Theory at the Ljubljana Academy of Music from 2011. Golob supervised the graduation and master's work of composers such as Tine Bec, who studied under him at the Academy.

Musical style and contributions

Genre blending and approach

Jani Golob's compositional style is distinguished by a crossover approach that frequently positions his music on the thin line between classical, pop, and jazz genres. His large catalogue contains music in classical, jazz, and popular styles. His opus reflects influences from jazz and popular music. Golob is also recognized for his contributions to Slovenian popular music, underscoring his versatility in navigating and merging diverse stylistic territories. This genre-blending approach manifests across both his concert and film works.

Selected works

Concert and classical compositions

Jani Golob's concert and classical compositions form a significant part of his output, encompassing orchestral works, concertos, chamber pieces, and sacred music, with a total of 16 works for symphony orchestra, 23 for string orchestra, 6 for wind orchestras, and 73 chamber works. Many of these pieces reflect his interest in blending classical structures with melodic and folk-inspired elements. Notable among his concert works is the Slovenian Rhapsody (2017) for concert band, which contributes to the wind orchestra repertoire. Three Folk Songs from Prekmurje (2017), arranged for clarinet and piano, draws directly from Slovenian regional folk traditions. The Koncert za harfo in orkester (Concerto for harp and orchestra) had its world premiere on May 31, 2018, at the Marjan Kozina Hall of the Slovenian Philharmonic in Ljubljana, performed by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir under conductor Marko Hribernik, with harpist Mojca Zlobko Vajgl as soloist. Golob's sacred composition Missa In Do, scored for soloists, mixed choir, organ, and orchestra, was also featured at the 2018 concert celebrating his 70th birthday, having been premiered approximately a decade earlier. Another chamber work, Pričakovanja (Expectations) for flute, violin, and piano, received its premiere performance in 2024. These pieces exemplify his continued activity in composing for diverse ensembles and soloists across traditional classical formats.

Film credits

Jani Golob has composed scores for numerous Slovenian films and television productions, primarily serving as composer across a range of features, television movies, series, and documentaries. His contributions in this field span from the early 1980s to recent years, establishing him as a key figure in Slovenian media music. His film credits include A Breath of Air (Dih, 1983), The Merry Wedding (Veselo gostivanje, 1984), A Summer in a Sea Shell (Poletje v školjki, 1985), Heretik (1986), A Proper Pirate (Čisto pravi gusar, 1987), A Summer in a Sea Shell 2 (Poletje v školjki 2, 1988), The Renegade (Odpadnik, 1988), The Witch Zofka (Coprnica Zofka, 1989), Someone Else (Nekdo drug, 1989), and Suburbs (Predmestje, 2004). Additional credits extend to television and other media works such as Leta odlocitve (1984), Ljubezen po kranjsko (1991), Patriot (1998), Črni bratje (2010), and various documentaries and series episodes up to Živela Koroška! (2021). These works reflect his extensive involvement in scoring for Slovenian cinema and broadcasting.

Other notable pieces

Jani Golob has composed an extensive array of chamber works, vocal pieces, and choral compositions that complement his larger-scale concert and film output, often displaying a distinctive blend of classical forms with Slovenian folk influences. These works frequently emphasize string instruments, winds, and piano, incorporating dance-like rhythms and melodic elements drawn from folk traditions. Representative chamber pieces include Poema for wind quintet (1977), Romance for viola and piano (1977), Passacaglia for piano quartet (1980), and multiple violin-piano sonatas from the mid-1980s. Golob has also produced several string quartets, including the first two in 1987 and a third in 1995, alongside other ensemble works such as Trio '84 for violin, viola, and cello (1984) and In blue for alto saxophone, string quartet, and double bass (2003). Pieces like Three Pieces for violin and piano (1982) and Sonata for cello and piano (1991) further illustrate his focus on intimate instrumental dialogues. Golob's engagement with folk material appears prominently in arrangements and folk-inspired originals, such as Four Folk Songs for strings (1980), which received the Župančič Prize in 1983. Other examples include Wedding Dance for two clarinets and strings (1984), Dance from Resia for two Resian instruments and strings (1988), and various Games for unconventional combinations, including recorder, violin, and cello (1982) as well as violin, guitar, and accordion (1994). His vocal and choral output features song cycles like That Time for alto and strings (1988) and smaller choral works such as The City for mixed choir (1979) and Kata, Katalena for 12 voices (1980).
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