His father, Mosha Josif was a merchant representative of Italian and German industries and an amateur dramatist.

Besides from affinity for contemporary (not avant-garde) expression, he was devoted to the sound of baroque and earlier periods.

That is visible in Josif’s compositional manner, but also in the titles of his several works: Sonata antica, Oratorio profano da camera, Frescobaldiana, Sinfonia ricercar.

Original melodic invention and specific instrumental coloring build a distinctive character of Josif’s musical language.

His access to art and creation was deeply influenced by philosophical and poetical dimension, which is reflected in numerous titles of Josif’s pieces (In memory of time, O bird, do not fold your wings, Kazivanja, Dozivanja, Snoviđenja, Pesmena govorenja, Vatrenja, Slobodišta).

Extremely emotional, philosophical and spiritual Josif’s nature, particularly influenced by Fyodor Dostoyevski, Nikolai Berdyaev and Martin Buber, was reflected in his different statements.

In his "sayings" (kazivanja in Serbian), Josif talked about spiritual life, his first contacts with the Bible, his relation with God and with all people around him.

He even noted specific parallels between destinies of Serbian and Jewish people; inspired by such a "general human tragedy of an alienated man", he composed the scenic chronicle Death of Saint Stephen of Dechani.

Although Josif refused publishing of his speeches and writings, many sources testify his attractive ideas and thoughts about his artistic and living inspiration.

Among them are numerous published interviews with Josif, as well as the collection of his lectures "Prophet of the stone herd", made by Vladeta R. Košutić, after audio recordings.