Page 183 - Weiss, Jernej, ur./ed. 2024. Glasbena kritika – nekoč in danes ▪︎ Music Criticism – Yesterday and Today. Koper/Ljubljana: Založba Univerze na Primorskem in Festival Ljubljana. Studia musicologica Labacensia, 7
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music in the k ar lovac pr ess in the nineteenth century
lovac was full? [...] Friends of progress should also think about that, be-
cause it is precisely in nurturing music and musical art that you can see
the temper and nobility of the heart not only of an individual, but also
of entire nations.42
According to articles in the press, the issue of city music in Karlovac
was a sore point. Because of its position and the accommodation of the
army, military music was often stationed in the city, which (except in some
cases of prohibition) could be engaged for social occasions – concerts, par-
ties, church ceremonies, and even funerals. On the other hand, the forma-
tion and maintenance of the city’s music meant a significant expense for the
city treasury and a series of organizational challenges (teaching, ensuring
of youth musicians, maintenance of instruments, etc.) which led to a per-
manent balancing between more or less (or shorter) successful city bands
throughout nineteenth century and the use of engagements of the present
military music (Music of the Slunj Regiment, Music of the 96th Imperial and
Royal Infantry Regiment (Ramberg music), Music of the 79th Imp. and Roy.
regiment of Count Jelačić, Music of the 96th Imp. and Roy. infantry regi-
ment of Baron Catinelli).43 Thus, for example, the city budget for 1900 con-
siders the possibility of establishing a city music, as well as discussing its or-
ganization and quality:
Is civic music really that necessary for our city, and is there any chance
that military music will return to Karlovac any time soon? It would be
nice if Karlovac also had its own civic music, that’s right, but that mu-
sic would have to be a little different than in some other small town or
market place. If it is not complete music, which the city could be proud
of, then it would really be better if the city did not spend a single pen-
ny for this purpose.44
42 “Zar doista grad Karlovac neće jedared da se makne iz dojakošnjega svoga glazbenog
mrtvila? Gdje su toliki glazbeno naobraženi ljudi, kojih je Karlovac pun bio? […] Pri-
jatelji napredka treba da se zamisle i u ti, jer se upravo u njegovanju glasbe i glasbe-
ne umjetnosti vidi ćud i plemenština srdca ne samo pojedinca, nego i čitavih naroda.”
Anon., “Javni izpit ovogradske glasbene škole,” Svjetlo 9, no. 26 (1 July 1894): 2–3.
43 On the history of military and city music In Karlovac, see: Marošević, Glazba četiri-
ju Rijeka, 60–4.
44 “Da li je gradjanska glasba za naš grad baš tako nuždna i da li neima izgleda, da se
vojnička glasba za koje vrieme vrati u Karlovac? Liepo bi bilo, kada bi i Karlovac imao
svoju gradjansku glasbu, to stoji, ali ta bi glasba morala biti malo drugačija, nego li
gdje u kojemu drugom gradiću ili trgovištu. Ako to nebude podpuna glasba, kojom bi
se grad mogao ponositi, onda bi doista bolje bilo, da grad netroši u tu svrhu niti nov-
čića.” Anon., “Gradski proračun za godinu 1900,” Svjetlo 14, no. 40 (5 November
1899): 1.
183
lovac was full? [...] Friends of progress should also think about that, be-
cause it is precisely in nurturing music and musical art that you can see
the temper and nobility of the heart not only of an individual, but also
of entire nations.42
According to articles in the press, the issue of city music in Karlovac
was a sore point. Because of its position and the accommodation of the
army, military music was often stationed in the city, which (except in some
cases of prohibition) could be engaged for social occasions – concerts, par-
ties, church ceremonies, and even funerals. On the other hand, the forma-
tion and maintenance of the city’s music meant a significant expense for the
city treasury and a series of organizational challenges (teaching, ensuring
of youth musicians, maintenance of instruments, etc.) which led to a per-
manent balancing between more or less (or shorter) successful city bands
throughout nineteenth century and the use of engagements of the present
military music (Music of the Slunj Regiment, Music of the 96th Imperial and
Royal Infantry Regiment (Ramberg music), Music of the 79th Imp. and Roy.
regiment of Count Jelačić, Music of the 96th Imp. and Roy. infantry regi-
ment of Baron Catinelli).43 Thus, for example, the city budget for 1900 con-
siders the possibility of establishing a city music, as well as discussing its or-
ganization and quality:
Is civic music really that necessary for our city, and is there any chance
that military music will return to Karlovac any time soon? It would be
nice if Karlovac also had its own civic music, that’s right, but that mu-
sic would have to be a little different than in some other small town or
market place. If it is not complete music, which the city could be proud
of, then it would really be better if the city did not spend a single pen-
ny for this purpose.44
42 “Zar doista grad Karlovac neće jedared da se makne iz dojakošnjega svoga glazbenog
mrtvila? Gdje su toliki glazbeno naobraženi ljudi, kojih je Karlovac pun bio? […] Pri-
jatelji napredka treba da se zamisle i u ti, jer se upravo u njegovanju glasbe i glasbe-
ne umjetnosti vidi ćud i plemenština srdca ne samo pojedinca, nego i čitavih naroda.”
Anon., “Javni izpit ovogradske glasbene škole,” Svjetlo 9, no. 26 (1 July 1894): 2–3.
43 On the history of military and city music In Karlovac, see: Marošević, Glazba četiri-
ju Rijeka, 60–4.
44 “Da li je gradjanska glasba za naš grad baš tako nuždna i da li neima izgleda, da se
vojnička glasba za koje vrieme vrati u Karlovac? Liepo bi bilo, kada bi i Karlovac imao
svoju gradjansku glasbu, to stoji, ali ta bi glasba morala biti malo drugačija, nego li
gdje u kojemu drugom gradiću ili trgovištu. Ako to nebude podpuna glasba, kojom bi
se grad mogao ponositi, onda bi doista bolje bilo, da grad netroši u tu svrhu niti nov-
čića.” Anon., “Gradski proračun za godinu 1900,” Svjetlo 14, no. 40 (5 November
1899): 1.
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