February 21, 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Milavec, an important Slovenian organ builder and disciple of Franc Goršič. In light of this anniversary, it is worth highlighting the unexpected discovery of the master’s legacy, which was handed over to Luka Posavec on April 16, 2023 by his descendant, Nevenka Škrlj.
Photo: Organistica
“The discovery of Milavec’s legacy represents an important milestone in Slovenian organology and in the understanding of what was happening in Milavec’s time. The research of the acquired materials will allow us to confirm or refute certain information, and will also open up many new questions.”
Luka Posavec
The legacy of Ivan Milavec includes preserved manuscripts, a personal notebook with an inventory of his organs, personal notes, certificates, letters, family photographs, a personal songbook with his favourite compositions, literature on the harmonium … All the materials have already been carefully scanned and are being catalogued by organologist Jurij Dobravec.
Music notebook with manuscript of musical arrangements
Particularly noteworthy is the content of the music notebook with a manuscript of arrangements of folk and art songs for a four-part male choir. The authors are listed where they are written: Rožica (A), Ločitev (F), Lahko noč (Mašek, D), Zvezda (Ipavec, E), Prošnja (Es), Sporočilo (Tovačovsky, Es), Pred slovesom (B), Lahko noč (Hajdrih, G), Slovo (Kocjančič, G), Ljubezen in pomlad (Medved, E), Gorska cvetica (Fajgelj, G), Pod oknom (Hajdrih, A), Ko brez miru (As), Slavjanska (D), Jadransko morje (Es), Novinci (D), Oj Banovci (D), Naprej! (B), Telovadski zbor (?Suchs, C), Danes tukaj jutri tam (Kocijančič, A), V Naravi (C), Na ples (E), Mazurka (G), Stopej (G), Lipa (G), Večerna (G).
Opus booklet
The Milavec’s opus booklet we found was his personal catalogue of the organs he built. He recorded a range of information about the organs, from the location and prices to disposition, dimensions and materials, and other technical details.
The legacy also contains some preserved invoices showing where he ordered pipes and other materials, e.g. Aug. Laukhuff, 17.10.1914, and Meisinger & Sohn FACTURA, 12.2.1915.
“In Milavec’s legacy, we also discover the fascinating information that Josip Valiček worked and studied with him, while Ivan Naraks finished Milavec’s last organ. They therefore knew each other and worked together.”
Luka Posavec
Printed materials
Among the materials, we also find the most important literature:
- Orgelbaumeister (Organbuilding Master, 1773)
- Die Kunst des Orgelbaues (The Art of Organbuilding, 1779)
- Die Reform des modernen Druckwind-Harmoniums (The Reform of the Modern Harmonium, 1908)
- Harmonium-Schule (Harmonium School, 1904)
Inventory of Ivan Milavec’s personal legacy (by Jure Dobravec)
Milavec’s legacy is a multifaceted discovery
In addition to information about his organs, the discovered documents also provide insight into his private life, which was previously unknown to us. With all that has been discovered, Milavec’s biography will have to be rewritten. We now also know the cause of his sudden death and the events surrounding it. It is also sad to learn that after his death, his family struggled daily to survive.
Photo: Wikipedia
The discovery is also important for Milavec’s largest organ, which stands in the Ljubljana Cathedral (Op. 26, 1911). In May 2021, discussions about its restoration were revived. New information has given us a definitive overall picture of the organ. The project of restoring the cathedral organ will be a long journey of discovering the importance of our own organ culture, as the organ is a virtually untouched sound-technical pearl of the Slovenian late Romantic period, also significant for the wider European public. The discovery of Milavec’s legacy is thus a good introduction and motivation for new insights and connections.
Photo: Branko Petauer
On the occasion of the discovery of the Milavec’s legacy, we would like to particularly thank Ms Nevenka Škrlj, who has handed over the preserved documentation and is assisting us to edit it. Thanks also to Tomaž Sevšek and Jurij Dobravec for their help, advice, and the extensive cataloguing of the legacy.
