Alphons Czibulka
Encyclopedia
----
Alphons Czibulka, Alfons Czibulka, or Czibulka Alfonz (May 14, 1842, Szepesváralja
, Szepesváralja district of Szepes , Upper Hungary
– October 27, 1894, Vienna
) was an Austro-Hungarian military bandmaster
, composer
, pianist
, and conductor
.
and at the National Theatre in Innsbruck
, in 1865 he was second under Franz von Suppe as conductor at the Carl Theatre in Vienna
.
From 1866 to 1869 he served as a military bandmaster in Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment No. 17 in Bolzano. From 1869 to 1870 he held the same position at the "23ern" in Petrovaradin and then, until 1871, with Infantry Regiment No. 20 in Krakow
.
Success as conductor and composer in the military led Czibulka onwards to Kapellmeister for Infantry Regiment No. 25 in Prague
from 1872 to 1880. In 1880 he was appointed representative of Austria-Hungary's military orchestra at the International Exhibition in Brussels. He won First Prize he won 1st price at that festival's Internationalen Musikkapellenkonkurrenz
When Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria became engaged, he dedicated to Princess Stéphanie of Belgium
his Stephanie Gavotte, which became one of the most popular salon music pieces of the 19th century.
From 1880 to 1883 he was military bandmaster of Infantry Regiment No. 44 in Trieste
. His opera Pentecost premiered in Vienna in 1884 and its success took it on to Florence
and thoughout Europe.
As a military bandmaster in the Infantry Regiment No. 31 in Vienna from 1883 to 1887 he held highly acclaimed composer-nights together with the musicians of the "30" under Carl Czerny (not related to the piano teacher). As a civilian he became music director in 1889 of the Concert House Flora in Hamburg. From 1891 to 1894 he again served as a military band conductor at the "19ern" in Vienna.
He conducted many giant Monstekonzerte at the Rotunda that had been built for the 1873 Vienna World Exhibition (Weltausstellung 1873 Wien
)
which was first a song created from the introducion 2/4 section of his work Wintermärchen Waltzes Op.366 (1891). The soon-forgotten song was re-issued as a stand-alone instrumental under the same title as the song. Hearts and Flowers
is the sentimental piece that has been frequently used to indicate mock tragedy in film and cartoon soundtracks..
Czibulka wrote over 300 works, especially Viennese-style dance music and marches. Of his stage works his greatest successes were the operettas Pfingsten in Florenz (1884) and Der Glücksritter (1887). Other oeprettas include : Der Jadjunker, Gil Bas, Der Bajazzo. A substantial amount of his music is preserved in the music collection of the Vienna City Library.
In 1938 a street, Czibulkagasse, was named after him in Vienna's Simmering (11th District).
Alfonso Czibulka is buried at Vienna's Central Cemetery.
Alphons Czibulka, Alfons Czibulka, or Czibulka Alfonz (May 14, 1842, Szepesváralja
Spišské Podhradie
Spišské Podhradie is a town in Spiš in the Prešov Region of Slovakia. Its population is 3,826.Spišské Podhradie is situated at the foot of the hill of Spiš Castle. It had a Zipser German settlement, with its own church and priest, in 1174...
, Szepesváralja district of Szepes , Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary is the usual English translation for the area that was historically the northern part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now mostly present-day Slovakia...
– October 27, 1894, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
) was an Austro-Hungarian military bandmaster
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Life
Czibulka first came to prominence from the age of 15 touring Southern Russia giving piano recitals and concerts. He eventually became musical director at the French Opera in OdessaOdessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
and at the National Theatre in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, in 1865 he was second under Franz von Suppe as conductor at the Carl Theatre in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
From 1866 to 1869 he served as a military bandmaster in Austro-Hungarian Infantry Regiment No. 17 in Bolzano. From 1869 to 1870 he held the same position at the "23ern" in Petrovaradin and then, until 1871, with Infantry Regiment No. 20 in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
Success as conductor and composer in the military led Czibulka onwards to Kapellmeister for Infantry Regiment No. 25 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
from 1872 to 1880. In 1880 he was appointed representative of Austria-Hungary's military orchestra at the International Exhibition in Brussels. He won First Prize he won 1st price at that festival's Internationalen Musikkapellenkonkurrenz
When Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria became engaged, he dedicated to Princess Stéphanie of Belgium
Princess Stéphanie of Belgium
Stéphanie was a Belgium princess by birth, and then made Crown Princess of Austria through her marriage to the heir of the Habsburg dynasty, Archduke Rudolf...
his Stephanie Gavotte, which became one of the most popular salon music pieces of the 19th century.
From 1880 to 1883 he was military bandmaster of Infantry Regiment No. 44 in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. His opera Pentecost premiered in Vienna in 1884 and its success took it on to Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and thoughout Europe.
As a military bandmaster in the Infantry Regiment No. 31 in Vienna from 1883 to 1887 he held highly acclaimed composer-nights together with the musicians of the "30" under Carl Czerny (not related to the piano teacher). As a civilian he became music director in 1889 of the Concert House Flora in Hamburg. From 1891 to 1894 he again served as a military band conductor at the "19ern" in Vienna.
He conducted many giant Monstekonzerte at the Rotunda that had been built for the 1873 Vienna World Exhibition (Weltausstellung 1873 Wien
Weltausstellung 1873 Wien
]The Weltausstellung 1873 Wien was the large World exposition was held in 1873 in the Austria–Hungarian capital of Vienna. Its motto was Kultur und Erziehung ....
)
Compositions
In the English-speaking world he is today best-remembered for his association with the famous piece Hearts and FlowersHearts and Flowers
"Hearts and Flowers" is a song composed by Theodore Moses-Tobani and published in 1893.The famous melody is taken from the introductory 2/4 section of "Wintermärchen" Waltzes Op.366 by the Hungarian composer Alphons Czibulka.The song as a vocal number was soon forgotten but the piece it was...
which was first a song created from the introducion 2/4 section of his work Wintermärchen Waltzes Op.366 (1891). The soon-forgotten song was re-issued as a stand-alone instrumental under the same title as the song. Hearts and Flowers
Hearts and Flowers
"Hearts and Flowers" is a song composed by Theodore Moses-Tobani and published in 1893.The famous melody is taken from the introductory 2/4 section of "Wintermärchen" Waltzes Op.366 by the Hungarian composer Alphons Czibulka.The song as a vocal number was soon forgotten but the piece it was...
is the sentimental piece that has been frequently used to indicate mock tragedy in film and cartoon soundtracks..
Czibulka wrote over 300 works, especially Viennese-style dance music and marches. Of his stage works his greatest successes were the operettas Pfingsten in Florenz (1884) and Der Glücksritter (1887). Other oeprettas include : Der Jadjunker, Gil Bas, Der Bajazzo. A substantial amount of his music is preserved in the music collection of the Vienna City Library.
In 1938 a street, Czibulkagasse, was named after him in Vienna's Simmering (11th District).
Alfonso Czibulka is buried at Vienna's Central Cemetery.
Works
- Erzherzog Friedrich-Marsch op. 286 (1878)
- Stephanie-Gavotte op. 312 (1880)
- Vom Donaustrand, Marsch op. 339 (1887)
- Liebestraum nach dem Balle, Intermezzo op. 356 (1890)
- An Dich!, Walzer-Serenade op. 390 (1894)
Literature
- Friedrich Anzenberger, Alfons Czibulka (1842-1894), Militärkapellmeister und Komponist, Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek 2000, Publikationen der Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek, Band 5.