Music of Slovenia: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The music of Slovenia is closely related to German, Austrian and Istrian because of its common history and Alpine and littoral culture. In the minds of many foreigners, Slovenian folk music means a form of polka that is still popular today, especially among expatriates and their descendants in the area of Cleveland, Ohio.

Slavko Avsenik is one of the most influential and popular polka and waltz musicians in the world. Oberkrainer music, which the Avsenik Ensemble popularized, remains very popular today and is always a strong candidate for country (folk) music awards in Slovenia and Austria. Slavko and his brother, Vilko, are usually credited as the pioneers of Slovenian popular music, having solidified its style in the 1950s.

One of the most famous modern Slovenian bands is Laibach, an early 1980s industrial music group.

Ljubljana-native Bratko Bibič's former band Begnagrad was a massively influential 1970s group that are considered one of the direct influences on modern world music. Bibič's unique accordion style, often solo, with no accompaniment, has also made him a solo star.

Avant-garde classical music arose in Slovenia in the 1960s, largely due to the work of Primož Ramovš and Ivo Petrič, who also conducted the Slavko Osterc Ensemble. Jakob Jež, Darijan Božič, Lojze Lebič and Vinko Globokar have since composed enduring works, especially Globokar's L'Armonia, an opera.

Modernist composers include Uroš Rojko, Tomaž Svete, Brina Jež-Brezavšček and Aldo Kumar. Kumar's Sonata z igro 12 (A sonata with a play 12), a set of variations on a rising chromatic scale, is particularly notable.

Folk music includes velike goslarije, a type of big band music, the bowed zither and panpipes, and rural harmony singing. Folk revivalists include Katice, Trinajsto prase, Musicante Istriani and Tolovaj Mataj.

Musical groups and musicians

Other modern musical groups and musicians include

• Agropop - folk-pop,
• All Capone Štrajh Trio - ethno folk,
• Babilon - pop rock,
• Bele vrane - pop/rock,
• Bepop - pop,
• Big Foot Mama - pop rock,
• Black Oath - heavy/power metal rock,
• Buh pomagej - folk pop,
• Buldožer - rock,
• Hic et Nunc - grunge/striking rock
• Hudo narobe - punk rock,
• I.N.A.F. - punk rock,
• Katalena - folk,
• Kingston - "white" reggae folk pop,
• Kladivo, konj in voda - folk,
• Kraški ovčarji - Balkan rock,
• Lačni Franc - rock,
• Mi2 - ??
• Murat & Jose - hip hop,
• New Swing Quartet - gospel,
• NIET - punk rock,
• Noctiferia - metal rock,
• Orlek - folk rock,
• Osmi dan - progressive hard rock/metal rock,
• Otroci socializma - punk rock,
• Outside Down - alter crossover,
• Panda - pop rock,
• Pankrti - punk rock,
• Paraziti - punk rock,
• Pirat - rock,
• Posodi mi j€rja - ethno rock,
• Power Dancers - pop,
• Racija - punk rock,
• Šank rock - pop rock,
• September - rock,
• Siddharta - pop rock,
• Soška postrv - punk rock,
• Videosex - techno/electro-pop,
• Zablujena generacija - "saloon" punk - alternative rock,
• Zaklonišče prepeva - punk/rock,
• The Stroj - industrial,

• Helena Blagne Zaman - pop,
• Nuša Derenda - pop/popular,
• Marjana Deržaj - popular,
• Tomaž Domicelj - pop rock,
• Ditka Haberl - pop/popular,
• Anika Horvat - pop/popular,
• Jani Kovačič - folk rock,
• Vlado Kreslin - folk rock,
• Lado Leskovar - popular,
• Aleksander Mežek - pop rock,
• Alfi Nipič - polka, popular,
• Tomaž Pengov - folk,
• Oto Pestner - pop, gospel
• Robert Pešut Magnifico - folk-pop,
• Jože Privšek - jazz,
• Anja Rupel - pop,
• Majda Sepe - popular
• Adi Smolar - folk pop rock,
• Karmen Stavec - pop,
• Andrej Šifrer - pop rock,
• Irena Vrčkovnik - pop/popular,
• Marta Zore - pop/popular,

• Burton, Kim. "The Sound of Austro-Slavs". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 277-278. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1858286360