Janez Bitenc

Janez Bitenc was a Slovene composer and music teacher, best known for the music he wrote for over 400 children's songs and musical stories.
Bitenc was born in Ljubljana. He studied music at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, where he graduated in 1952. In addition to composing music, he also wrote the lyrics for many of his children's songs and published book of stories for children. In 1971, he won the Levstik Award for his book of songs for young children Ciciban poje. He died in Ljubljana at the age of 79.
Bitenc's songs are known by more or less all preschool and primary school children in Slovenia. Among the best known of his songs are "Kuža pazi", "Naša četica koraka", "Zajček dolgoušček", and "Ringa raja."

Selected Works for Children

Ciciban poje, 1971Sonce se smeje, 1985Jakčev klobuček, 1987Trije petelinčki, 1987Srebrni gumbek, 1987Leseni ptiček in druge glasbene pravljice, 1991Medvedki na semnju, 1993O zajčku, ki je izgubil ključek, 1993Oblaček Postopaček. 1995Zmaj Lakotaj, 1998Medvedka Meta, medved Jaka in čarodejno ogledalo, 2001Božična zgodba, 2003Snežinka Pepinka, 2004Kje je moja kapica? 2004Mucka Čiribucka, 2005O mucki Vili, Vili Maji in povodnem možu, 2005O mucki Moniki in zvezdici Lučki, 2005O mucah, ki predejo sanje, 2005Prvi šolski dan v mačji šoli, 2005Mucine sanje, 2005Tri muce so šle na potep, 2005