Josef Pálenícek
Encyclopedia
Josef Páleníček was a Czech
piano
virtuoso
and composer
.
in Prague, and concurrently he studied also at the Prague Conservatory
. From 1933 to 1938 he continued his studies at the master school of Karel Hoffmeister, with whom he has collaborated since 1928. Simultaneously he studied law at the Charles University. He graduated from both schools in 1938. Páleníček was also a pupil of Vítězslav Novák
and Otakar Šín. He completed his studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris
, where he studied under Diran Alexanian
and Pierre Fournier
. During his stay in Paris
he studied also with Albert Roussel
. From 1936 he started his career as a concert pianist and he became a solo pianist with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
in 1949. However, his first public performance he experienced in 1926 in Olomouc
. He was twelve. Following the World War II
he also became a member of the Czechoslovak Communist Party.
Páleníček was appointed a professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 1963.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
and 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...
.
Biography
Páleníček studied at the gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Prague, and concurrently he studied also at the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
. From 1933 to 1938 he continued his studies at the master school of Karel Hoffmeister, with whom he has collaborated since 1928. Simultaneously he studied law at the Charles University. He graduated from both schools in 1938. Páleníček was also a pupil of Vítězslav Novák
Vítezslav Novák
Vítězslav Novák was one of the most well-respected Czech composers and pedagogues, almost singlehandedly founding a mid-century Czech school of composition...
and Otakar Šín. He completed his studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris
École Normale de Musique de Paris
The École Normale de Musique de Paris is a leading conservatoire located in Paris, France. The school was founded by Auguste Mangeot and pianist Alfred Cortot in 1919...
, where he studied under Diran Alexanian
Diran Alexanian
Diran Alexanian was an Armenian cello teacher. He studied cello with Friedrich Grützmacher in Leipzig, as well as played chamber music with Johannes Brahms and violinist Joseph Joachim...
and Pierre Fournier
Pierre Fournier
Pierre Fournier was a French cellist who was called the "aristocrat of cellists," on account of his elegant musicianship and majestic sound....
. During his stay in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
he studied also with Albert Roussel
Albert Roussel
Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel was a French composer. He spent seven years as a midshipman, turned to music as an adult, and became one of the most prominent French composers of the interwar period...
. From 1936 he started his career as a concert pianist and he became a solo pianist with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
The Česká filharmonie is a symphony orchestra based in Prague and is the best-known and most respected orchestra in the Czech Republic.- History :...
in 1949. However, his first public performance he experienced in 1926 in Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
. He was twelve. Following the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he also became a member of the Czechoslovak Communist Party.
Páleníček was appointed a professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 1963.
Orchestral compositions
- Concertino for orchestra (1945)
- Symphonic Variations on an Imaginary Portrait of Ilya Erenburg for large symphony orchestra (1971)
Concertant compositions
- Ist Concerto in C for piano and orchestra (string orchestra and timpani) (1940)
- IInd Concerto in E flat for piano and orchestra (1952)
- IIIrd Concerto for piano and small orchestra, for young pianists (1961)
- Concertino da camera in D for clarinet and orchestra (1957)
- Concerto for Flute and orchestra (1955)
- Concerto for Saxophone and orchestra (1944)
Compositions for chamber ensembles
- Preludium a Capriccio for violin and piano (1935)
- Suita piccola for violin and piano (1958)
- Variations on a Choral Song of the XVIIth Century for violoncello and piano (1942)
- Sonata for clarinet and piano (1936)
- Partita piccola for clarinet and piano (1943)
- Masks, two compositions for saxophone and piano (1957)
- Ist String Quartet (1954)
- Piano Quintet (1933)
- Variations on his own theme for violoncello and piano (1972)
- Rondo Concertante for violoncello and piano (1972)
- Trio Sonata for oboe, mezzosoprano and piano (1965)
Choral compositions
- Songs to Chinese poetry for soprano and piano (ossia for baritone and piano), Czech translation of verses by B. Mathesius (1947)
- My Lai, for mezzosoprano and piano (1971)
- Blown Traces, cycle of men s choirs (1958)
Cantatas
- Song of Man, full-length oratorio for soloists, mixed choir and large orchestra, folk choir and folk soloists and children's choir (1960)
Instructive compositions
- Czech Fairytales (1940)
- From the Notebook of a Small Boy, 7 short compositions for violoncello and piano (ossia bassoon and piano, bass clarinet and piano) (1972)
- Abacus for children's choir, piano, trumpet, clari- net and percussion instruments (1973)