Glasbena matica Ljubljana in its 140th anniversary

The cultural society Glasbena matica Ljubljana was founded in 1872 in Ljubljana in with the intention to fill the gap caused by the lack of emphasis of the then Philharmonic Society on Slovene Music (in the second half of the 19th century, Ljubljana's cultural societies were under significant German or rather Austrian influence). There were quite a few important individuals who have left an indelible mark on the work of the Society, among them Ravnihar. Both, the father and the son, directed the Matica for 50 years, using their political clout to enhance the activities of the Society. Glasbena matica took under its wings amateur and professional musicians.  Already at the time of its foundation, it counted among its members important Slovene public personalities, respectable Ljubljana townsmen as well as cultural workers and patriots from other Slovene towns. Its most productive period was until World War II.

Matica's activities first included the publishing of Slovene compositions and collecting folk songs.  In 1882 a music school was founded and in 1891 a choir and also began with concert activity. The desire of its members to establish a concert orchestra became true with the first Slovene Philharmonic, actively performing in the period between 1908 and 1913, and the Orchestral Society, founded in 1919. With the establishment of the conservatory the same year, Glasbena matica fulfilled its most important objective – to facilitate professional musical education.

After World War II, its activities were continued by the choir, which performed successfully in Ljubljana, elsewhere in Slovenia and also participated in competitions and tours abroad. The Society was revived after 1998, which is largely the merit of the recently deceased Jože Humer. The Society has since re-acquired its buildings on Gosposka and Vegova street, which had been nationalized after the war.  Thus it could revive its choral and some other activities.

(foto: Sigic - the president Ivanka Mulec Ploj under a digital release of an image of Iacobus Handl Gallus)


In the recent years, the Society has been led by its president Ivanka Mulec Ploj. The current exhibition at the National University Library (NUK) documents the work of the Society, since much of the archives of Glasbena matica has been kept by NUK. Available for the visitors of the exhibition are the oldest recordings of the choir, recorded in the first years of the 20th century, a screen projection of documents, sheet music and photographs. Digitized releases of the Glasbena matica Publishing House, which are available online via the site of the Digital Library of Slovenia (http://www.dlib.si), were made possible by Sigic.

At the height of this year's events celebrating the 140th anniversary of Glasbena matica was the Central Festive Academy on 21 October under the patronage of the President of the Republic dr. Danilo Türk.