It was held in Cankarjev dom in Vrhnika, and the program professionally constructed by Dr Rebekah Kunej from ZRC SAZU. There were a number of accordions from the Breznik Family displayed on the stage, along with others which are proudly owned by Slovenians across the country.
The aim of the occasion was to tell the largely forgotten story of the Kucler Family and their accordions, which helped to create the love for this instrument throughout time, and still is much loved and played today.
A little about the story first….
The Kucler Family, who were based in Lesno Brdo, a few kilometres away from the event, were the first manufacturers of button accordions (frajtonerce) in Slovenia. Ivan Kucler began manufacturing these as a small cottage industry but when his son, Franc, became involved, he took it to a serious business level. Two of Franc’s sons, Anton and Leopold (Tone and Polde), also learnt the trade and it became an international business with exports of accordions taken by train to Trieste and then shipped to France, Germany, Canada and the USA.
In 1942, the family home was surrounded by the occupying forces, accordions were stacked on a wagon and Franc Kucler shot dead in front of his house. His wife, Antonija Kucler was taken from the house by a parade of soldiers, boarded a train and taken to Ljubljana to be locked up for several weeks before her eventual fate was the same as her husband. She was declared a national heroine in 1952.
Both Tone and Polde were also killed later during the war, leaving no-one in the Kucler family to carry on the legacy. The house was set alight after the execution of Franc and not much remained, except the metal tools which Avgust Železnik, Franc’s once apprentice, had collected from the ashes, a short time later.
Avgust began his own accordion making business in Vrzdenc and later Vrhnika. This then prompted others to start their own manufacturing (by hand) businesses, such as Rutar and Melodija.
This story of great success and tragedy was largely forgotten until it was written in Katarina Vrisk’s book Anthology of Slovenian Australian Musicians. It had been entrusted by the Breznik Family in Sydney. Mrs Jeni (Jelena) Breznik is the daughter of Tone Kucler. This is the Australian connection to the story.
Some years later, Jure Žitko from Podlipa, a town close to Vrhnika, was also researching the story of the Kuclers. He came across Katarina’s book and made contact.
When Katarina came to Slovenia in 2024, Jure invited Katarina to Vrhnika, where they met up with Sonja Žakelj, the Director of the Cankarjeva Library in Vrhnika. That was where the idea to stage an event to highlight this story and success of the Kucler’s came to light.
Nearly two years since that time, a cultural evening explaining, presenting and demonstrating the creativity, the tenacity and the industry of these people. It was held in Cankarjev dom in Vrhnika, where a number of accordions from the Breznik Family were displayed on the stage, along with others which are proudly owned by Slovenians across the country. The aim of the occasion was to tell the largely forgotten story of the Kucler Family and their accordions, which helped to create the love for this instrument throughout time, and still is much loved and played today.
Talented accordion player, Gal Suhadolnik, began the program with a solo piece on a Kucler. The sound rang out to enthral the audience and highlight what this now circa 100 year old instrument sounded like. There were speeches from the Director of the Vrhnika Library, Sonja Žakelj, family representative, Jeni’s half sister Marija Lenarsic and Katarina Vrisk, who had made the long journey from Australia to Slovenia, to attend. Urban Peterle, a 15 year old Kucler enthusiast, also played on his Kucler accordion to much acclaim. A descendant of the Železnik Family, Janez Železnik, also performed on one of his own accordions, a ‘Janez’ accordion which he made and is one of 800 accordions he manufactured in his own workshop in Vrzdenc.
As a point of interest, the Folkdance Group Klas Horjul and Šumnik Borovnica performed a traditional dance from the area to the accompaniment of accordion and clarinet. This highlighted the use of the accordion in a different way, to accompany folk dancers. The whole program was led by announcer Petra Grom, who also told the story of the Kuclers and how the story came to light. This was all accompanied by a slideshow of many relevant photographs, old and newer, on the large screen behind the performers.
To conclude, the evolution of the button accordion was highlighted by master performer, World Champion, Denis Novato, showing the intricate nuances of today’s accordion.
In the foyer were six placards which told the entire story in words and images. The audience also had a chance to inspect the original hand-made tools which were collected from the ashes in 1942 and are now in the hands of the Železnik Family. Janez was there to demonstrate to the many interested people and answer lots of questions. Interestingly, there was a chance for an Insta pic with the floral button accordion which had been made by master florist, Janez Rupnik, from Cvetličarna Jana from Vrhnika. Booklets with Katarina’s story translated into Slovenian and the book launch information and photos in Sydney in 2016, were kindly printed and donated by the Breznik Family for audience members to take.
Booklets with Katarina’s story were translated into Slovenian along with the 2016 Sydney book launch information and photos, were kindly printed and donated by the Breznik Family for the attending audience members.
This was an important event to highlight the cultural significance of the Kuclers and the link between Slovenia and Australia. After all the planning and organisation, the night was a great success.
More photos from event is in Photo Gallery >>>