The master's thesis titled "The History and Development of Orchestral Percussion in Slovenia" discusses the development and placement of percussion and percussionists in orchestras in the area of the presentday Republic of Slovenia. Due to the lack of indepth research on this topic, this work fills an important gap in Slovenian music history literature. With the help of analysis of archival sources, professional publications, interviews with prominent Slovenian percussionists, and a study of documentation written at anniversaries of music institutions, the thesis systematically presents data on the historical development of the Slovenian orchestralpercussion scene. The introductory part presents the first mentions of organized instrumental groups and timpani players in Slovenia, highlighting their role in urban and church services. The research then follows the formation and development of major orchestras, such as the Academia Philharmonicorum, the Philharmonic Society in Ljubljana, the Slovenian Philharmonic, the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, and the orchestras of the music theaters in Ljubljana and Maribor. Special attention is given to the role of percussion in these ensembles and changes in orchestral lineups over time. Names of Slovenian percussionists and percussion instruments played by them are also listed in the mentioned orchestras. The final part of the thesis discusses the beginnings of systematic percussion teaching at the National Conservatory, the development of the study at the Secondary Music School and the Music Academy in Ljubljana, and the establishment of independent higher and university studies of percussion in the 1990s. Professors and the influence of musical traditions are also mentioned, where we find that, despite the strong German influence, the EnglishFrench percussion performance practice was also established in Slovenia.
|
