Slovenian composer, ethnomusicologist, linguist and etymologist Pavle Merkú wrote his last composition in 2004, struggling with ill health ever since.

When accepting the award he described the time, by using the words "ten years of suffering''.

Merkú was one of the most influential cultural personalities among Slovenians living in Italy. He was born in Trieste in 1927 to a Slovenian father and an Italalian mother.

Translated by L.P. (RSi)