SLAVKO AVSENIK

80th Birthday - November 26, 2009

Slovenian Style Polkas

Oberkrainer Sound

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC

OBERKRAINER QUARTETT

SLOWENISCHER BAUERNTANZ POLKA (Iz Bohinja)

SEE THE VIDEO

SLAVKO AVSENIK UND SEINE ORIGINAL OBERKRAINER

GREGOR UND SEINE GITARRE (Fant S Kitaro)

Congratulations to

“SLAVKO AVSENIK”

on his 80th Birthday

Best wishes!

From all of us.

The polkas.nl gang.

80

Slavko Avsenik

Slavko Avsenik

KÖNIG DER VOLKSMUSIK

In the idyllic village of Begunje na Gorenjskem, home of the world-famous Elan ski, yacht and sports gear company, there is also another (or the first) curiosity that gained world fame in the previous decades – formerly an ensemble, and now an institution called Avsenik. The ensemble of the Avsenik brothers, originating in Begunje, was active between 1953 and 1990, and ever since, the village of Begunje has been the centre of their music, which has become undying and practically traditional. After Slavko Avsenik took over the formerfamily tavern in Begunje in 1988, with the help of his sons, a real Slovenian centre of popular folk music sprang up and, besides the tavern, a concert hall, museum shop, record company, music school, gallery and many other things were established, which attract lovers of that type of music from Slovenia and numerous neighbouring countries. The Avsenik brothers have so far had the most successful Slovenian musical group, and won worldwide recognition. The leader of the ensemble, Slavko Avsenik, with his brother Vilko Avsenik, is the founder of popular folk music in Slovenia and of the special music group named after them. Slavko Avsenik, born in 1929, is not really a man known for self-praise; but he likes to talk about some things he has done and achieved, which is not little, if we only begin with the fact that during the time ensemble was working, they sold more than 32 million records, had more than ten thousand concerts, and, jokingly, Slavko takes pride in the fact that they performed on the same day in the same city as the famous Rolling Stones, and that his band’s concert was much better attended.

Slavko Avsenik was born in a rural and catering family as the youngest child. The first family orchestra was established on their father's request as early as 1936. Slavko stayed home after finishing primary school and worked on the farm and also played from time to time, since accordion was his favourite instrument. Immediately after World War II, he was also an enthusiastic ski jumper and became a member of the national team. In 1952 he married Brigita, to whom he is still married today, and together with his wife, he took over the tavern; however, at the time, business was not good, so he worked in the sock-making factory in Ljubljana.

The accordion and folk music remained his constant companions – besides playing, Slavko also began to compose, although he has no musical education. According to his ideas, the music was written and arranged by his brother Vilko who was already a professional musician at the Ljubljana Radio. After successful auditioning at Ljubljana Radio, he became a solo player and later had his own ensemble. Thus, in 1953, a group was created, with Slavko playing piano-accordion, his brother Vilko on clarinet, Franc Košir on trumpet, Franc Ogrizek on baritone horn and later guitar-player Leo Ponikvar. Thus, Gorenjski kvintet was created, performing abroad as the Oberkrainer Quintett; later, when more imitators appeared, they became the Original Oberkrainer. Members came and went, and the majority of musicians became Slovenian musical legends, including singers who listeners around the world enjoyed - Franc Koren, Danica Filipič, Ema Prodnik, Jožica Svete, Joži Kališnik and Alfi Nipič.

The ensemble recorded their first record abroad in 1955, and later received many gold, diamond and even platinum albums, and numerous awards for their originality; they went professional in 1960. Slavko and Vilko created hundreds of own compositions, notably polkas and waltzes, in which they praised the beauties of Slovenia. It is interesting that today a unique audio symbol of the Avsenik ensemble and almost the whole of Slovenia (besides the national anthem) is their composition Na Golici (known as Trompeten Echo in German speaking areas), which was Slavko Avsenik's idea in 1955. This tune is one of the most frequently played compositions in popular music worldwide.

Slavko Avsenik is één van de invloedrijkste en populairste polka muzikanten in de wereld.

Oberkrainer muziek ontstond in de jaren 50 in Begunje, een plaats in Slovenië. Slavko en Vilko Avsenik zijn de bedenkers van deze unieke stijl.

Oberkrainer muziek bestaat uit vlotte polka's of ontroerende en melancholische walsen.

De bezetting van originele Oberkrainer bands: accordeon, klarinet, trompet, tuba en gitaar.

In 1954 toen Slovenië nog bij het voormalige Joegoslavië hoorde, ontdekte presentator Fred Rauch van de Bayerische Rundfunk tijdens een vakantie in Oostenrijk Slavko & Vilko Avsenik. Hij hoorde op de radio hun Oberkrainer ensemble dat bestond uit vijf muzikanten. Fred was zo onder de indruk van de muzikale prestaties dat hij direct het ensemble voor een radiouitzending naar Duitsland haalde. Er werd geschiedenis geschreven, de Oberkrainerwerd wereldberoemd.

De leider en accordeonist van de groep Slavko Avsenik trad voor het eerst op met zijn broer Vilko (klarinet) in het Gasthof Avsenik in Begunje, Slovenië van hun ouders. De broers gingen op zoek naar andere muzikanten. En zo ontstond uiteindelijk Das Original Oberkrainer Quintett, met Slavko Avsenik - accordeon, Franc Koschir - trompet, Leo Ponikvar - gitaar, Albin Rudan - klarinet en Franc Ogrizek - tuba. Slavko's broer Vilko hield zich daarna hoofdzakelijk met componeren en arrangeren bezig. Slavko Avsenik maakt de melodie, Vilkobewerkte het voor hun nieuwe eigen Oberkrainersound. Later werd het Quintett aangevuld met het zangduo Ema Prodnik en Franc Korén. Slavko Avsenik Und Seine Original Oberkrainer werden uiteindelijk wereldberoemd. Er waren optredens en verkoop van platen over de hele wereld.

Slavko Avsenik Und Seine Original Oberkrainer zijn jaren geleden al met pensioen gegaan. Hun muziek blijft echter voortbestaat. Slavko heeft Die Jungen Original Oberkrainer aangewezen als zijn officiële opvolgers. Slavko schrijft nog steeds muziek voor zijn opvolgers.

Begunje is nog steeds de plaats van de familie Avsenik. Inmiddels wordt het ouderlijk restaurant-hotel geleid door de jongste zoon van Slavko, Gregor Avsenik.
 

Am 26. November 2009 feiert Slavko Avsenik

König der Volksmusik

seinen 80-igsten

Geburtstag