EN
The most important works by Jozef Kresánek (1913 – 1986) include the scholarly trilogy Základy hudobného myslenia (Fundamentals of musical thinking) (1977), Tonalita (Tonality) (1982) and Tektonika (Tectonics) (1994). This sequence gives proof of the lifelong effort he devoted to music theory as a musicological discipline, which enabled him to explore, within the category of musical thinking, the developmental laws of European art music in all their complexity. Jozef Kresánek began as a music historian, and in his scholarly studies, monographs, surveys and musical editions he devoted himself especially to the problems of the modern history of Slovak music from the 18th to the 20th century. In terms of methodology, he applied a synthesis of the music-historical and music-theoretical approaches. This paper makes a close analysis of the lasting contribution, as well as the period residues, in the conception of two of his works: Dejiny hudby (History of music) (1942) and Vznik národnej hudby v 19. storočí (Birth of the national music in the 19th century).