The origin of rotation, dense matter physics and all that: a tribute to Pavle Savic

This is a review of the main physical ideas and examples of applicability in astrophysics and pure physics of a semiclassical theory of dense matter proposed by Pavle Savic and Radivoje Kasanin in the early sixties. A hypothesis, advanced by Savic with the aim of solving the problem of the origin of rotation of celestical bodies,will also be discussed. The paper is dedicated to the memory of Pavle Savic, who died recently.