The Institute of Ethnomusicology, the oldest institute of the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, was established on 15 October 1934. The first director of the Institute, known as the Folklore Institute before World War II, was France Marolt. He steered the Institute’s activity towards collecting, researching and publishing materials and scientific findings, which remain the Institute’s primary goals. The Institute was affiliated with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1972 as a section of the Institute of Slovenian Ethnology.
In 1994, it resumed its status as an autonomous Institute of Ethnomusicology of the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU).
During the decades of rapid changes to our way of life, the Institute of Ethnomusicology monitored the disappearance of folk culture. In an era of globalisation and alteration or elimination of borders, it has identified recognisable forms of Slovenian identity in folk songs, instrumental music and dance, and sought to trace its outlines and influences in relation to the culture that forms an intrinsic part of our lives. Its findings have allowed us to learn more about ourselves and helped establish Slovenia within the European and wider international framework.
Through its projects, the Institute of Ethnomusicology explores the dance heritage of Slovenian migrants in Cleveland, the acoustemology of bell ringing, Slovenian spiritual culture in the process of globalisation, etc. The Institute’s publications include exhaustive ethnomusicological research studies into folk music and dance.
