Free edition
Arrangement for three-part choir SSA (S1 d1-g2, S2 A d1-c2, A h-Bb1) with piano (heavier and lighter) accompaniment
Arranged by Slavko Avsenik jr.
The text is written in Slovenian.
Shortly after Slovenia gained independence, Slavko Avsenik was asked to consider a possible alternative national anthem for Slovenia. He was enthusiastic about the idea and set to work with great zeal. As usual, an idea came to him very quickly, in which he linked the resilience of a tree, which high up in the hills steadfastly and tenaciously defies the passage of time and the weather (the Slovenian ‘Viharnik’ as in the Slovenian title), with the fate of the Slovenian nation, which has endured throughout history in similarly difficult circumstances. Yet the ‘Viharnik’, which shone in the spring sunshine during this festive period, also pays tribute through its defiance to Slovenian folk music, which, despite a difficult early history, has persevered and survived. It was premiered in an arrangement by Slavko’s brother Vilko, conducted by Marko Munih, at the first concert of Avsenik’s music with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra in 1999 at the SNG Maribor.
Later, the composer wanted to make further changes, so he suggested to his son, Slavko Avsenik Jr., that they write the song from scratch. Ivan Sivec also adapted his lyrics, and Slavko Jr. then arranged it for various ensembles – for an Avsenik quintett, choirs, a wind orchestra, a wind quintet …
In 2009, when Slavko Avsenik was made an honorary citizen, it became the official anthem of the municipality of Radovljica. It did not take on its final form until two years after Slavko Avsenik’s death, at the next concert of Avsenik music with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, held in 2017 at Cankarjev dom. At the request of Slavko Jr., Ivan Sivec added lyrics to the section that had previously been instrumental, enabling the song to be sung without accompaniment – a cappella. Accompanied by the orchestra and the youth choir, it was sung by the tenor Aljaž Farasin under the baton of conductor Simon Dvoršak.
