Matija Bravničar

Who was Matija Bravničar?

Matija Bravničar was a Slovenian composer.

Bravničar was one of the first Slovenian symphonic composers. He composed 4 symphonies, 2 operas, several symphonic poems, chamber music, etc. He first began studying the violin, and then studied composition with Mario Kogoj and Slavko Osterc at the Ljubljana Conservatory. He was a member of the opera orchestra in Ljubljana, and after the war a professor of composition. An expressionist composer, his compositions often used elements of Slovenian folk music tradition.

In 1963 he received the Prešeren Award for his Concerto for violin and orchestra. In the early 1970s until his death he was a member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts .

His son Dejan Bravničar is a noted Slovenian violinist, and his grandson is pianist Igor Bravničar.