Technical Documentation of the Milavec Pipe Organ in the Ljubljana Cathedral

A brochure titled Technical Documentation of the Pipe Organ in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Ljubljana has been published. This 500-page publication is the first comprehensive and detailed documentation of one of the most significant historical organs in Slovenia. Its release coincides with the launch of the restoration project for the Milavec organ in the Ljubljana Cathedral.

Discussions about restoring the Milavec organ began anew in May 2021, leading to a detailed inspection of the instrument. The organ restoration committee, which included members Luka Posavec and Aleš Razpotnik, agreed to first document the existing cathedral organ thoroughly, inspired by successful projects undertaken by the Göteborg Organ Art Center (GOArt).

Documenting the Milavec organ was physically, temporally, and logistically demanding task. The work was conducted in several phases from July 2021 until November 2024, culminating in a comprehensive report presented in the form of a brochure. The project included detailed photography of the instrument and its components, measurements of the pipes, bellows, wind chests, console, and organ cases, as well as sound recordings of the organ and monitoring of the room’s temperature and humidity. From the extensive range of measurements collected, we gathered significant and structured data about the instrument, catalogued its unique features, and compiled a rich collection of visual materials. Throughout the process, only non-invasive measurement techniques were used.

The resulting Technical Documentation of the Pipe Organ in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Ljubljana offers an in-depth insight into the current condition and capabilities of the instrument itself and its surroundings. The publication not only serves as a foundation for evaluating the instrument and supports informed and well-reasoned decision-making regarding necessary actions in the present context but also acts as an objective basis for future research.

By documenting the Milavec organ, we successfully achieved two main goals:

• Developing a documentation policy and methodology for historical organs in Slovenia.
• Collecting and consolidating data and information about the organ in one place, which can serve as a foundation for future comparative studies of organ construction and craftsmanship.

The documentation of the Milavec organ in the Ljubljana Cathedral is not yet complete. The next phase will begin once the restoration and upgrades of the instrument are finished. At that time, the existing publication will be updated with current data and new visual materials.

Technical Documentation of the Pipe Organ in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Ljubljana