Vidovdan is actually anniversary of the religious holiday of the same name, the date of special importance to ethnic Serbs: on June 28, 1389, according to the Serbian Orthodox religious tradition, and according to the Serbian romantic (19th century) national identity founding tradition, the Ottoman Empire fought against Serbia in the Battle of Kosovo, and duke Lazar of Serbia was slain in battle.

The Serbs in Vojvodina (within the borders of the Habsburg empire) once again became involved in European musical trends in the eighteenth century, but they did not forget their traditional roots.

The patrons of iconostases, portraits and still life paintings also enjoyed music which set itself apart from oriental models.

The period itself was earmarked by amateurism, but Serbian music of the Romanticist style began then, based on the folk melodies.

The music was mostly in the service of patriotic ideas and of the preservation of the nation, as indicated by the ecclesiastical performances of the time (concerts with mixed programmes—choral, soloist and orchestra compositions, including dramatic pieces as well) which were put together by church choir societies, the pillars of Serbian musical life.