In 2012, on the centennial of the composer’s birth, a memorial plaque was attached to his childhood home. Featuring an original design by architect Samo Šport, the plaque hugs a corner of the house on two sides: bearing an inscribed dedication on one side, and a symbolic representation of Šifler’s talents on the other. This dual composition refers to the polarity that marked Šifler’s life: he was torn between his native and adopted countries, as well as his biological and foster families.
Pavel Šifler
Pavel Šifler (1911–2001) was a composer, organist and choirmaster. He spent his childhood in a foster family, the Šiflers, in Polhov Gradec, which was his first home and one of many. At the young age of twelve, he followed his mother to America, where he studied and composed. In the US, he was known as Paul John Sifler. In 1940, he graduated in composition and organ from the Chicago Conservatory of Music and honed his skills as a choirmaster. He always felt a special affinity and love for organ, in the spirit of his father Ivan Kacin, who was a renowned Slovenian organist, choral director and organ builder. Still, father and son never met during their lifetimes.
His extensive body of work is marked primarily by organ pieces, whose titles directly refer to Slovenia. Works deemed particularly noteworthy are 4 slovenske rapsodije, Slovenski triptih za klavir, Trije preludiji na slovenske cerkvene himne (4 Slovenian Rhapsodies, Slovenian Triptych for Piano, Three Preludes to Slovenian Church Hymns), etc. His creative output contains around 230 compositions, including choral and symphonic works, four masses and Božični oratorij (Christmas Oratorio) as well as three operettas. He lived and worked in Hollywood until his death.
Maia Juvanc
