Page 378 - Vinkler, Jonatan, in Jernej Weiss. ur. 2014. Musica et Artes: ob osemdesetletnici Primoža Kureta. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem.
P. 378
musica et artes
Nataša Cigoj Krstulović
Between Amateurism and Professionalism:
Ljubljana music society Glasbena matica after World War I
Since the beginning of the 19th century the differentiation of amateur and pro-
fessional musical work in the major music centres of the European territory went
simultaneously with the process of institutionalization of musical life. Develop-
ment of Slovenian musical work at that time was interfered with the low level of
music education caused by the absence of the well organised educational sys-
tem on the national basis. The Ljubljana Music Society Glasbena matica, estab-
lished in 1872, a little more than two decades after the ‘fateful’ year of 1848,
initiated the institutionalization and professionalization of Slovenian mu-
sic. The substance of the music society’s activities in the first period followed
three main programme guidelines: preserving folk music heritage of the Slo-
venes, concern for the development of amateur choral singing and vocal mu-
sic and gradual professionalization of musical work. With the establishment
of the music Conservatory in 1919, Glasbena matica had created a foundation
for the separation of amateur and professional musical work and the gradual en-
forcement of instrumental music.
In the twenties and thirties of the 20th century Glasbena matica retained the po-
sition of the largest Slovenian music society. Statistic data of its concert, publish-
ing and education activities show remarkable results: from 1918 until the end of
the Second World War has organized over 600 concerts and five several days
long tours of its choir in Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France and Swit-
zerland and Bulgaria, has issued over 170 volumes of different compositions and
didactic manuals, society’s music school were attended by several thousand pu-
pils. Despite the gradual institutionalisation and professionalization of Sloveni-
an musical work after 1919 the (educational) norms of amateur musical practic-
es still had a significant impact on society’s work. Its amateur choir, consisted
of more than 150 members, maintained a representative function and per-
formed large vocal-instrumental (usually unmodern) works in accordance
with the expectations of its audience. In 1919 established society’s amateur or-
chestra, important for the popularization of orchestral music, could not have
a significant meaning in artistic development due to its structure. At the end
of the thirties of the 20th century Glasbena matica found itself at a crossroads.
Maintaining a representative and educational function of music in society’s pro-
gramme prevented artistic development. The final separation of amateur and
professional work took place after World War II. The need for professionaliza-
tion was the most important reasons for splitting of the individual musical activ-
376
Nataša Cigoj Krstulović
Between Amateurism and Professionalism:
Ljubljana music society Glasbena matica after World War I
Since the beginning of the 19th century the differentiation of amateur and pro-
fessional musical work in the major music centres of the European territory went
simultaneously with the process of institutionalization of musical life. Develop-
ment of Slovenian musical work at that time was interfered with the low level of
music education caused by the absence of the well organised educational sys-
tem on the national basis. The Ljubljana Music Society Glasbena matica, estab-
lished in 1872, a little more than two decades after the ‘fateful’ year of 1848,
initiated the institutionalization and professionalization of Slovenian mu-
sic. The substance of the music society’s activities in the first period followed
three main programme guidelines: preserving folk music heritage of the Slo-
venes, concern for the development of amateur choral singing and vocal mu-
sic and gradual professionalization of musical work. With the establishment
of the music Conservatory in 1919, Glasbena matica had created a foundation
for the separation of amateur and professional musical work and the gradual en-
forcement of instrumental music.
In the twenties and thirties of the 20th century Glasbena matica retained the po-
sition of the largest Slovenian music society. Statistic data of its concert, publish-
ing and education activities show remarkable results: from 1918 until the end of
the Second World War has organized over 600 concerts and five several days
long tours of its choir in Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France and Swit-
zerland and Bulgaria, has issued over 170 volumes of different compositions and
didactic manuals, society’s music school were attended by several thousand pu-
pils. Despite the gradual institutionalisation and professionalization of Sloveni-
an musical work after 1919 the (educational) norms of amateur musical practic-
es still had a significant impact on society’s work. Its amateur choir, consisted
of more than 150 members, maintained a representative function and per-
formed large vocal-instrumental (usually unmodern) works in accordance
with the expectations of its audience. In 1919 established society’s amateur or-
chestra, important for the popularization of orchestral music, could not have
a significant meaning in artistic development due to its structure. At the end
of the thirties of the 20th century Glasbena matica found itself at a crossroads.
Maintaining a representative and educational function of music in society’s pro-
gramme prevented artistic development. The final separation of amateur and
professional work took place after World War II. The need for professionaliza-
tion was the most important reasons for splitting of the individual musical activ-
376
