Page 484 - Weiss, Jernej, ur./ed. 2023. Glasbena društva v dolgem 19. stoletju: med ljubiteljsko in profesionalno kulturo ▪︎ Music societies in the long 19th century: Between amateur and professional culture. Koper/Ljubljana: Založba Univerze na Primorskem in Festival Ljubljana. Studia musicologica Labacensia, 6
P. 484
glasbena društva v dolgem 19. stoletju: med ljubiteljsko in profesionalno kulturo
though the conditions for the activity in those countries differed, the goals
were the same: to defend oneself against Russification, Germanisation, and
Americanisation through songs, to preserve one’s own language, cultural
traditions, and customs, to form a national identity, to mature the idea of
the statehood, and to help Lithuania liberate itself from the Russian Empire.
Keywords: Lithuania, music societies, choir, Russia, Germany, the USA.
Vlasta Stavbar
The Reading Society Movement in Slovenia:
the Slavic Reading Society in Maribor
The Spring of Nations led to the blossoming of Slovenian cultural and polit-
ical activities. Slovenian political journals and literary newspapers were es-
tablished. Demands were expressed for Slovenians to receive their very own
university, Slovenian schools and that the Slovenian language should be
used in public. However, all cultural endeavours of the Slovenian bourgeoi-
sie, which was modest in 36 number and economically weak, were short-
lived. It is only after the return to constitutional normalcy in 1861 that we
can follow the advancement of the reading society movement in Slovenia.
The most important instigators of the reading society movement were Old
Slovenes (staroslovenci), among them Dr Janez Bleiweis with his circle of
leaders such as Dr Toman and Dr Costa. Theirs was a careful policy that
favoured making compromises. With initiatives published in Novice, they
began thinking about establishing reading societies in Slovenia, modelled
on the Croatian čitaonice. The first reading society was established on 29
January 1861 in Trieste, and the second one on 17 July 1861 in Maribor. In
Ljubljana, a reading society was not established until October 1861. Oth-
er Slovenian towns followed. Reading societies became the main vessels of
cultural development in the second half of the 19th century. There, the na-
tional consciousness was roused and strengthened, and the use of the Slo-
venian language was promoted. Interest among the Slovenian people was
sparked by means of dynamic societal activities, with an emphasis on cul-
tural and societal life, and national-political awakening. People learned
about literature, music, theatre and history, and discussed political issues,
although the latter was forbidden in the society’s rules. The most impor-
tant purpose of reading society events called bésede was national awaken-
ing, which was especially highlighted in opening addresses. Reading soci-
eties were mostly attended by the bourgeoisie and intellectuals. In the final
period of the movement (1890–1900) reading societies were also established
482
though the conditions for the activity in those countries differed, the goals
were the same: to defend oneself against Russification, Germanisation, and
Americanisation through songs, to preserve one’s own language, cultural
traditions, and customs, to form a national identity, to mature the idea of
the statehood, and to help Lithuania liberate itself from the Russian Empire.
Keywords: Lithuania, music societies, choir, Russia, Germany, the USA.
Vlasta Stavbar
The Reading Society Movement in Slovenia:
the Slavic Reading Society in Maribor
The Spring of Nations led to the blossoming of Slovenian cultural and polit-
ical activities. Slovenian political journals and literary newspapers were es-
tablished. Demands were expressed for Slovenians to receive their very own
university, Slovenian schools and that the Slovenian language should be
used in public. However, all cultural endeavours of the Slovenian bourgeoi-
sie, which was modest in 36 number and economically weak, were short-
lived. It is only after the return to constitutional normalcy in 1861 that we
can follow the advancement of the reading society movement in Slovenia.
The most important instigators of the reading society movement were Old
Slovenes (staroslovenci), among them Dr Janez Bleiweis with his circle of
leaders such as Dr Toman and Dr Costa. Theirs was a careful policy that
favoured making compromises. With initiatives published in Novice, they
began thinking about establishing reading societies in Slovenia, modelled
on the Croatian čitaonice. The first reading society was established on 29
January 1861 in Trieste, and the second one on 17 July 1861 in Maribor. In
Ljubljana, a reading society was not established until October 1861. Oth-
er Slovenian towns followed. Reading societies became the main vessels of
cultural development in the second half of the 19th century. There, the na-
tional consciousness was roused and strengthened, and the use of the Slo-
venian language was promoted. Interest among the Slovenian people was
sparked by means of dynamic societal activities, with an emphasis on cul-
tural and societal life, and national-political awakening. People learned
about literature, music, theatre and history, and discussed political issues,
although the latter was forbidden in the society’s rules. The most impor-
tant purpose of reading society events called bésede was national awaken-
ing, which was especially highlighted in opening addresses. Reading soci-
eties were mostly attended by the bourgeoisie and intellectuals. In the final
period of the movement (1890–1900) reading societies were also established
482
