Tale Ognenovski

Tale Ognenovski (Тале Огненовски; April 27, 1922 – June 19, 2012) was a Macedonian multi-instrumentalist who played clarinet, recorder, tin whistle, bagpipe, zurna, and drums.

He composed or arranged 300 instrumental compositions: Macedonian folk dances, jazz compositions, and classical concerts.

In 1933, his father Jovan died.

By the time Tale was 15 (1937), Tale's grandmother Mara and mother Fanija (Vanka) provided some money to buy Tale his first clarinet, and the priest Spase helped them to order it from Celje, Slovenia.

Tale began to play the clarinet at many celebrations and concerts in villages and the town of Bitola with many other musicians.

Tale Ognenovski was Macedonian Partisan (1941 – 1945) and participated in the World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia as a member of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia (Народноослободителна војска на Македонија) in many partisans units including: the National Liberation Bitola-Prespa partisan detachment "Dame Gruev" (Битолско-преспански партизански одред „Даме Груев“), the Bitola National Liberation partisan detachment "Goce Delchev" (Битолски партизански одред „Гоце Делчев“), the National Liberation "Mirche Acev Partisan Battalion" (Партизански баталјон „Мирче Ацев“), the "First Macedonian-Kosovo Partisan Assault brigade" (Прва македонско-косовска ударна бригада), the National Liberation partisan Battalion "Strasho Pindzur" (Народноослободителен баталјон „Страшо Пинџур“), the "Second Macedonian Assault Brigade" (Втора македонска ударна бригада) and the "Seventh Macedonian Assault Brigade" (Седма македонска ударна бригада).

His mother Fanija (Vanka) Ognenovska) was a participant in the 1941 National Liberation War of Macedonia and for her merits for the freedom of Macedonia she received a national pension by Decision of the Administrative Commission of the government of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, number 05-4010 from 1962 and number 58-689 / 65 (P.br.

In front of this gift plaque were engraved the words: “Second Macedonian Assault Brigade 1943 Fuštani Tale Ognenovski“

Pande Tashkoski in his book entitled "Consistent with the vow" ((("Доследни на заветот") on page 65 wrote: "Tale Ognenovski, played the clarinet very well. He learned to play himself. He was a famous and popular clarinetist in Bitola. Everyone considered him the best…” On June 21, 1943, in the forest near the village of Lavci, Bitola region, Tale Ognenovski told to his comrades the partisans Pande Tashkoski, Pande Jovchevski - Kajzero and Jonche Savevski from the Bitola National Liberation partisan detachment "Goce Delchev": "If I stay alive, I promise after the war, I will dedicate myself to music.

I will master the notes and play in a big orchestra." This is written on page 67 of Pande Tashkoski's book entitled: "Consistent with the vow" (("Доследни на заветот"). The vow that Tale Ognenovski made on June 21, 1943, in the forest near the village of Lavci and which Tale Ognenovski fulfilled his promise after the war: Tale Ognenovski performed as clarinet and reed pipe (‘kavalche’) soloist with Macedonian National Ensemble for Folk Dances and Songs "Tanec" in Carnegie Hall, New York City, US on January 27, 1956. For this Carnegie Hall concert The New York Times music critic John Martin wrote two articles: "Ballet: Yugoslav Folk Art; 'Tanec' Dancers Appear at Carnegie Hall in Display of Tremendous Skill", published on January 28, 1956, and "The Dance: Folk Art; Group From Yugoslavia In Impressive Debut Learning vs. Magic No Macedonian Monopoly The Week's Events", published on February 5, 1956, and He composed or arranged 300 instrumental compositions: Macedonian folk dances, jazz compositions and classical concerts: Tale Ognenovski and his son Stevan Ognenovski arranged for two clarinets Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and recorded the albums: Mozart and Ognenovski Clarinet Concertos and Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski.

was the inspiration for writer Pande Tashkoski to name the title of his book “Consistent with the vow" ((("Доследни на заветот")

16 partisans, part of the fighters members of the Bitola partisan detachment for national liberation "Goce Delchev": Pande Jovchevski – Kajzero (Панде Кајзеро), Todor Angelovski (Tosho Daskalot – Strogov) (Тодор Ангелевски), Pande Tashkovski, Fana Kochovska (Фана Кочовска-Цветковиќ), Tale Ognenovski (Тале Огненовски), Cane (Aleksandar) Ognenovski (brother of Tale Ognenovski), Sotir Brbeski – Ilo, Krste Samarkovski – Vele, Peco Gudovski – Mustaklijata, Milan Ilievski – Sasho, Jonche Savevski, Krste Shaprevski - Vele, Sotir Brbeski - Ilo, Josif Nedelkovski – None, Tode Derioski – Kumo and Vasko Karangelevski, they were surrounded by the Bulgarian police and army in the village of Lavci, Bitola and near the village and in an unequal fight on June 22, 1943, the partisan Pande Jovchevski - Kaisero died in a fight killing 11 Bulgarian policemen and 3 Bulgarian soldiers near village of Lavci, Bitola and the next day on June 23, 1943, Todor Angelovski (Tosho Daskalot - Strogov) died in a fight with the Bulgarian police and the Bulgarian army in the village of Lavci, Bitola.

The other partisans broke through the ring, fighting with the Bulgarian police and Bulgarian army.

From March 1943, Todor Angelovski (Tosho Daskalot – Strogov) was Commander of the Headquarters of the Second Operational Zone of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army and the partisan detachments of Macedonia.

The events described on June 22 and 23, 1943, which took place in the village of Lavci, Bitola and in its vicinity, and are described in the books entitled: book “Consistent with the vow" ((("Доследни на заветот") and in the film ((" Македонски дел од пеколот ") (“Macedonian Part of Hell”

Tale Ognenovski was present on 11 November 1943 in the village of Slivovo, Republic of Macedonia (Сливово), Republic of Macedonia where the "First Macedonian-Kosovo Assault brigade was formed together with his brother Cane (Aleksandar) Ognenovski and together with the other 800 fighters ".

Fighters of the "First Macedonian-Kosovo Assault brigade" were, the partisans: Fana Kochovska (Фана Кочовска-Цветковиќ), Mitrevski Vidan – Krste (Gospod), Naum Veslievski Ovcharot (Наум Веслиевски), Petar Brajović Buro (Петар Брајовић), Commander of "First Macedonian-Kosovo Assault brigade", Čede Filipovski Dame (Чеде Филиповски - Даме), Deputy Commander of "First Macedonian-Kosovo Assault brigade"… The member of the Supreme Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia and delegate of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia Svetozar Vukmanović (Светозар Вукмановиќ – Темпо), announced the formation of the "First Macedonian-Kosovo Assault brigade" and gave a speech on the occasion of the formation of the brigade.

From November 14, 1943, the brigade fought several battles with the German and Bulgarian armies in the vicinity of Kicevo, Veles, Brod, Krushevo, Debar, Demir Hisar, Resen ... On the night of December 5, 1943, the brigade started marching from the village of Slivovo (together with the brigade was also the General Staff and the Central Committee of Macedonia) through the mountain Galicica between Prespa and Lake Ohrid, through the Albanian crossed the Greek territory and on December 9 took a vacation in the village of German (Герман (Леринско)).

The inhabitants of the village were delighted with the arrival of the Parisians and a popular celebration took place at which the clarinetist Tale Ognenovski, who was also a Macedonian partisan and a fighter of the brigade, played.

From September 11, 1944, to November 4, 1944, Tale Ognenovski was the commander-in-chief of the first partisan prison in the Democratic Federal Macedonia by decree of the Presidium (Президиум на АСНОМ) of Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) (Антифашистичко собрание на народното ослободување на Македонија).

On September 11, 1944, the first partisan prison was located on the island of Golem Grad (Голем Град) on Lake Prespa (Преспанско Езеро).

On September 21, 1944, in Bitola, in the Democratic Federal Macedonia and in its vicinity, large German forces were concentrated retreating from Greece and Albania) who fought hard with the Macedonian partisans from the "Seventh Macedonian Assault Brigade" and for the security of the first partisan prison he was moved from the island of Golem Grad on Prespa Lake to another safe location in Resen and later to another safe location in Bitola. Democratic Federal Macedonia was the name of Macedonia as a federal state within the newly proclaimed Democratic Federal Yugoslavia (Социјалистичка Федеративна Република Југославија). This name was used in the period from 1944 to March 8, 1946, when the Presidium of the National Assembly changed the law in the People's Republic of Macedonia. The National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia, commanded by General Mihajlo Apostolski (Михајло Апостолски) was part of People’s Liberation Army and partisans Detachment of Yugoslavia (Југословенски партизани) commanded by Josip Broz Tito (Јосип Броз - Тито) in the Second World War

His brother Cane (Aleksandar) Ognenovski (1925 - April 1944; was Macedonian Partisan (1941 – 1945) and participated in the World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia as a member of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia (Народноослободителна војска и партизански одреди на Македонија (НОВ и ПОМ)} and he died in the National Liberation War in April 1944.

On January 27, 1956, he performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a clarinet and reed pipe (recorder) soloist of the Macedonian State Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs.

For this Carnegie Hall concert The New York Times music critic John Martin, wrote two articles: "Ballet: Yugoslav Folk Art; 'Tanec' Dancers Appear at Carnegie Hall in Display of Tremendous Skill" ", published on January 28, 1956, and "The Dance: Folk Art; Group From Yugoslavia In Impressive Debut Learning vs. Magic No Macedonian Monopoly The Week's Events", published on February 5, 1956. Dance Observer commented, "The capacity audience at Carnegie Hall on January 27 for the single New York performance of Tanec, the Yugoslav National Folk Ballet, enjoyed a fascinating cross-section of over 2000 years of human history and culture.

Tanec is a Macedonian group." Life commented, "This spring, the Yugoslav National Folk Ballet is making a first, and highly successful tour of the U.S...Together they make as vigorous a display of dancing as the U.S. has ever seen." Craig Harris at Allmusic noted for Macedonian National Ensemble for Folk Dances and Songs "Tanec" and clarinetist Tale Ognenovski, "The ensemble reached their peak during the late '50s, when influential clarinet and pipes player Tale Ognenovski was a member."

Tale Ognenovski received the "Memorial Plaque" by the Committee for the commemoration of the 40 year jubilee of the partisan detachments "Pelister", "Dame Gruev" and "Jane Sandanski" from the Municipal Conference of the socialist alliance of the working people of the Republic of Macedonia - Bitola on 12 September 1982 as a sign of recognition of belonging to the partisan detachments as member of the People’s Liberation Army of Macedonia and Participation in the Yugoslav National Liberation War.

Posthumously on November 29, 1950, in Belgrade, Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, the Minister of Defense, Supreme Commander of the Yugoslav Army Josip Broz Tito awarded him a "Spomenica na padnatite borci - Monument to the Eternal Remembrance and Glory of the Fallen Fighters of the People's Liberation War of Yugoslavia" (Spomenica - Monument number 234705; (”Споменица за вечен спомен и слава на паднатите борци на Народноослободителна војна на Југославија” (број на Споменицата 234705)). Posthumously on September 12, 1982, in Bitola, Republic of Macedonia ("Memorial Plaque" was received by Tale Ognenovski) Cane (Aleksandar) Ognenovski received the "Memorial Plaque" by the Committee for the commemoration of the 40 year jubilee of the partisan detachments: "Pelister", "Dame Gruev" and "Jane Sandanski" from the Municipal Conference of the socialist alliance of the working people of the Republic of Macedonia - Bitola on 12 September 1982 as a sign of recognition of belonging to the partisan detachments as member of the People’s Liberation Army of Macedonia and Participation in the Yugoslav National Liberation War.

He received as gift the book titled: "People's Liberation Partisans Units of Macedonia from Bitola” (Битолските Народно ослоботителни партизански одреди”, издавач: “Друштвото за наука и уметност” од Битола, Република Македонија ”) in the edition of “Association for Science and Arts” from Bitola, Republic of Macedonia” published in 1982. On the second page of this book is written as a tribute, the following words: "This book is gift to Tale Ognenovski, a member of the People's Liberation Partisan Unit of Macedonia “Goce Delchev” from Bitola as a sign of recognition on the occasion of the 50 anniversaries of the foundation of the Unit" – From “Union of the Associations veterans of the People's Liberation war of Macedonia from Municipality of Bitola”, May 21, 1993. Tale received as gift plaque made of wood and metal on December 20, 1978, in town Negotino, Republic of Macedonia as Commemorative gift for 35th anniversary of the foundation of Second Macedonian Assault Brigade on December 20, 1943, in the village of Foustani (Фуштани) in Greece, where the "Second Macedonian Assault Brigade" was formed.

3052) from 01.01.1965. Josip Broz Tito, President of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, awarded her with the decoration Order of Merits for the People with Silver Rays (Орден на заслуги за народот со сребрена звезда) by Decree no. 197 of December 7, 1963, for organizing and strengthening the national defense, security and independence of the country and its participation in the People's Liberation War of Macedonia and Yugoslavia in the Second World War (1941 - 1945). Her house in the village of Brusnik, Bitola, was used for holding meetings and connections of the communist party organization with the partisan detachments

Tale Ognenovski won top honors on October 11, 2003, at Macedonian Parliament as the Winner of "11 October" Award, the highest and the most prestigious national award in Republic of Macedonia.

Ognenovski was included in the book The Greatest Clarinet Players of All Time: Top 100 by Alex Trost and Vadim Kravetsky.

Tale Ognenovski and his son Stevan Ognenovski arranged for two clarinets Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and recorded the albums Mozart and Ognenovski Clarinet Concertos and Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K. 622 Arranged for Two Clarinets by Tale Ognenovski.

Perhaps these two albums are unique recordings of this concert with two clarinets where first clarinet with first arrangement and second clarinet with second arrangement that's played simultaneously – by one performer (Tale Ognenovski).

All About Jazz celebrated April 27, 2009, the birthday of Tale Ognenovski with All About Jazz recognition: Jazz Musician of the Day: Tale Ognenovski, with announcement published at his website.

Top40-Charts News published an article entitled, "Mozart and Ognenovski Is the Best Clarinet Concertos in the World" on November 21, 2014.

Ognenovski was born in Brusnik, Bitola, Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Tale Ognenovski inherited his talent from his great-grandfather Ognen and grandfather Risto, both of whom were players on the reed pipe (recorder), and from his father Jovan who was a player on the bagpipe.

When Tale was 7 he began to play on the reed pipe (recorder).

For his active participation in Partisan National Liberation Army Tale Ognenovski (Тале Огненовски) was awarded with national decorations including: Commemorative Medal of the Partisans of 1941 (Партизанска споменица од 1941) (No. 25021 and Medal No. 24198) on June 20, 1961, in Belgrade, Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia by decree signed by the Minister of Defense of the former Yugoslavia Minister, Army General Ivan Gošnjak and Order of Bravery (Yugoslavia) (Орден за храброст) (no. 97333, Ordinance no. 172 of 15.07.1949.) from Presidium of the National Assembly of the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia ("Орден за храброст", бр. 97333, Указ бр. 172 од 15.07.1949 год. од Президиум на Народното Собрание на Федеративна Народна Република Југославија).