In memoriam: Alfi Kabiljo

It is with great sadness that ECSA took notice of the passing of great Croatian film composer Alfi Kabiljo. Alfi was honourable member and former President of ECSA member HDS.

Alfi Kabiljo (1935) has written scores for numerous feature films, documentaries, television films, television dramas and television series. His vast, rich, and diverse oeuvre includes, among others, epic scores for costume dramas like Seljačka buna 1573 (Peasant’s Revolt 1573) and Banović Strahinja, locally oriented scores for films like Kužiš stari moj (Do You Understand, My Friend?) or Zadarski memento (Zadar Memento), scores which feature disco and electronica like music for the film Novinar (The Jorunalist), as well as scores for legendary partisan films like Snađi se druže (Figure It Out, Comrade), or Okupacija u 26 slika (Occupation in 26 Images) and Pad Italije (The Fall of Italy).

Alfi’s distinctive scoring style made him a well-known and widely esteemed film composer, in Croatia as well as internationally. Additionally, being a skilful songwriter, he also wrote numerous songs for film and television series.

In 2022, at the Camille Awards ceremony in Split, Croatia, ECSA had the pleasure to honour Alfi with the Camille Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his versatility, his relentless artistic spirit, and the excellence in every aspect of his film scoring.

Alfi has won numerous other prizes and awards, including the Ivan Zajc Prize, the Josip Slavenski, two Pula Arenas, a City of Zagreb Charter, a Milivoj Koerbler Prize, a Lifetime Achievement Porin, a Status, the Kairos, and a Boris Papandopulo.

Antun Tomislav Šaban, HDS Secretary General, states:

"With the passing of Alfi Kabiljo, Croatia has lost one of its greatest composers. He was the only one among us who successfully worked across all musical genres. His pop songs once won awards at all domestic and many international festivals, and they live on today as timeless classics. He was called the "king of Croatian musicals" because he truly dominated the genre for decades.

In addition, he was the author of one of the most significant bodies of film music in Croatia (including international productions—and even one Hollywood film!). Finally, and this is less well known, Alfi was also an award-winning composer of classical music. He wrote an opera and a ballet, as well as an extensive oeuvre of chamber and solo works that are frequently and enthusiastically performed by many musicians.

Alongside his artistic work, he was also a dedicated member of the Croatian Composers’ Society (HDS), serving as its former president and, for two decades, as a member of the board. He was always an advocate for his colleagues, especially young composers, whom he continuously encouraged to compose more and better music."

Our sincere thoughts and condolences go to Alfi’s family and loved ones.