Slovenia

The trajectory of the classical guitar in Slovenia has been characterized by a continuous acceleration transforming from a marginal accompanying instrument in the 19th century into a fully established concert and pedagogical medium in the 20th and 21st centuries. Its historical development is intrinsically linked to the institutionalization of music education, the craft of instrument making and pedagogical achievements that positioned the guitar alongside other canonical classical instruments. Systematic guitar instruction gained broader recognition only in the 20th century coinciding with the establishment of music schools offering formal guitar curricula. The earliest documented solo recital was delivered in 1938 by Stanko Prek in the small hall of the Slovenian Philharmonic. Following the Second World War the Melodija Mengeš instrument factory commenced production thereby stimulating public interest in the guitar through its manufacture and distribution. This period also witnessed the publication of the first Slovenian guitar textbooks and the composition of original works by Slovenian composers which enriched the expressive potential of the instrument. In contemporary Slovenia the guitar occupies a firmly institutionalized position across the entire spectrum of public music education: it is taught at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, in sixty-seven accredited public music schools and in numerous private institutions. Since 2004 the curricular inclusion of the guitar orchestra has facilitated the proliferation of such ensembles nationwide. Slovenia currently boasts internationally active guitarists as well as a younger generation embarking on professional careers. Domestic luthiers contribute to pedagogical and concert practice and although the tradition of guitar making is comparatively shorter than in certain other countries individual masters attest to the possibility of achieving high-level craftsmanship within Slovenia. Slovenian composers continue to expand the guitar’s repertoire situating it within contemporary creative practices and aligning it with global musical currents.