Ignacij Zupan, one of Slovenia’s most prolific organ builders, was born on July 21, 1853, in Kropa. His father, Ignacij Sr. (1825-1888), was also an organ builder and served as his son’s first teacher in the craft. As a self-taught artisan, Ignacij Sr. built many organs that adhered to traditional designs, often incorporating slider chests.
Ignacij Zupan received formal training at the organ-making firm of Brothers (Fr.) Rieger in Krnov, Bohemia. From this experience, he introduced the manufacturing of cone chests to Slovenia, which he discussed in his article “Sostava Orgel” published in the Cerkveni glasbenik publication in 1882. This article, spread across five issues of the magazine (CG 1882, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9), provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary developments in organ building across Europe. It is considered one of the most significant historical documents in Slovenian organology.
Ignacij Zupan Sr. initially worked as a freelance organ builder. In 1880, he, along with his sons Ignacij (1853-1915) and Ivan (1857-1900), established the organ-building company Ignacij Zupan & Sons in Kropa. In the same year, the company installed its first organ with cone chests in Jelšane, near Ilirska Bistrica. This installation is documented in the Cerkveni glasbenik publication (CG 1880, No. 12, p. 100 and CG 1881, No. 1, p. 8).
After their father’s death in 1888, Ignacij and Ivan moved the workshop to Kamna Gorica, renaming it the Zupan Brothers organ-building firm. Ignacij focused on organ building while Ivan managed the office; he also served as an organist in Kamna Gorica and was a successful composer. The Zupan Brothers’ organ workshop continued to operate until Ignacij’s death on November 7, 1915.
Photo: Digital library of Slovenia, NUK
The extensive opus the Zupan Brothers workshop
Ignacij Zupan made as many as 127 large and small organs in both workshops, not only in Slovenia, but also in various locations across Istria (Lovran 1903, Opatija 1900, Volosko 1910) and elsewhere in Croatia (Kringa), Slavonia (Mitrovica), Bosnia (Livno), Dalmatia (Drniš, Metković, Šibenik). The largest organs, featuring 19 registers, were installed in Bovec (circa 1903), Ig (1888), Kranj (1892), and Poljane nad Škofjo Loko (1907). Many smaller organs, from 12 to 17 registers, were created and distributed throughout Slovenia and beyond. Some of them were later rebuilt or restored, while a significant number remained in good working condition by the end of the 20th century, attesting to the high quality of craftsmanship used in their construction.
Ignacij Zupan invented a method for tinning zinc sheets in a fire, giving the pipes the appearance of being cast from tin. The Zupan Brothers workshop received recognition for their work, being awarded a bronze medal at the World Exhibition of Science and Crafts in Brussels in 1888, as well as a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Music and Theatre Arts in Vienna in 1892.
Opus of the Zupan Brothers organ workshop
Taken from the text by Edo Škulj, Slovenski biografski leksikon, Zupan Ignacij