In 1985, on the initiative of the Choral and Reading Society SKD Slavec, a memorial plaque was attached to the façade of Ivan Kuret’s birthplace. The inscription reads:
“Ivan Kuret, musician, national awakener of the Slovenian Littoral, was born here, 1863–1914.”
Ivan Kuret
Ivan Kuret (1863–1914) was a teacher, choirmaster, composer and promulgator of nationalism among Istrian Slavs, as well as an initiator and conductor of numerous choral, reading and economic societies. As a politician, Kuret advocated the principles of the Edinost political society.
He was born in Ricmanje (San Giuseppe della Chiusa). After attending primary school in Dolina (San Dorligo della Valle), he decided to become a teacher and entered a teacher-training college in Koper, graduating in 1882. While pursuing his studies at the teacher-training college, he organised and conducted a male choir in his native village, Ricmanje, which inspired in him the national revival sentiment. After graduation, Kuret held a teaching post in Kubed, where he conducted the Kubed Reading Room Choir. In July 1885, during the celebrations marking the Kubed Reading Room’s anniversary, Kuret and the ensemble enchanted the audience by performing Lepa naša domovina (Our Beautiful Homeland), a song by Josip Runjanin arranged by Vatroslav Lichtenegger. He was then reassigned to Šmarje, where he remained until 1892, when moving to Dekani with his family. It was there that he was able to follow his true vocation as a teacher, composer and promulgator of the national revival, dedicating himself to cultural activities and politics. Compelled to retire prematurely due to failing health, he moved to Gorizia in 1910, where he died.
His influence was felt most strongly in Dekani, where he spent eighteen years of his life. On his departure from Dekani, the locals paid tribute to Kuret with an extensive farewell article in the Edinost newspaper. Kuret achieved distinction by conducting the local Reading Room mixed and male choirs and organising a mixed choir of the burgeoning Zrinjski Society, an ensemble comprising over forty singers. Under his leadership, the communal and congregational singing in Dekani attained such fame throughout the Koper area that on major holidays even members of the educated classes from neighbouring towns flocked to Dekani to listen to this fine singing. In recognition of this achievement, a ministry in Vienna presented him with a decoration and a 100-crown award.
The choir’s appearances in various coastal towns (Marezige, Pobegi, Škofije) encouraged the formation of new choirs. Moreover, on Kuret’s initiative, new choirs, as well as choral and reading societies were organised, including Ilirija in Pobegi, Svoboda in Sveti Anton and Slovenija in Pomjan. In addition to folk singing, Kuret also fostered church choral music as conductor of the Marian Choir in Dekani.
Maia Juvanc
