Miloslav Kabelác
Encyclopedia
Miloslav Kabeláč was a prominent Czech
composer
and conductor
. Miloslav Kabeláč belongs to the foremost Czech symphonists, whose work can be compared with Antonín Dvořák
or Bohuslav Martinů
. New ways of expression presentated by Kabeláč in his eight symphonies and the perspectives opened by him to modern understanding and conception of this traditional genre have not yet penetrated our general conscience in a way corresponding to their importance and impact. In the totalitarian period Kabeláč's work found itself on the periphery of official attention and was performed only sporadically and in a limited choice of compositions.
as pupil of Karel Boleslav Jirák
, simultaneously (in 1930-31) he studied also as a pupil of Alois Hába
. In 1932-54 was Kabeláč employed in Prague Radio. Since 1957 to 1968 he worked as a teacher at the Prague Conservatory. During his life was Kabeláč active in Umělecká beseda, in the Federation of Czechoslovak Composers and in other organisations. In sixties he tried to revive contacts with western modern music and composers, but after the Soviet invasion to Czechoslovakia was silenced. His works were performed only abroad since then.
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...
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...
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...
. Miloslav Kabeláč belongs to the foremost Czech symphonists, whose work can be compared with Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
or Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Martinu
Bohuslav Martinů was a prolific Czech composer of modern classical music. He was of Czech and Rumanian ancestry. Martinů wrote six symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental works. Martinů became a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic...
. New ways of expression presentated by Kabeláč in his eight symphonies and the perspectives opened by him to modern understanding and conception of this traditional genre have not yet penetrated our general conscience in a way corresponding to their importance and impact. In the totalitarian period Kabeláč's work found itself on the periphery of official attention and was performed only sporadically and in a limited choice of compositions.
Life
In 1928-1931 he studied at Prague ConservatoryPrague 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 :...
as pupil of Karel Boleslav Jirák
Karel Boleslav Jirák
Karel Boleslav Jirák was a Czechoslovak composer and conductor....
, simultaneously (in 1930-31) he studied also as a pupil of Alois Hába
Alois Hába
Alois Hába was a Czech composer, musical theorist and teacher. He is primarily known for his microtonal compositions, especially using the quarter tone scale, though he used others such as sixth-tones and twelfth-tones....
. In 1932-54 was Kabeláč employed in Prague Radio. Since 1957 to 1968 he worked as a teacher at the Prague Conservatory. During his life was Kabeláč active in Umělecká beseda, in the Federation of Czechoslovak Composers and in other organisations. In sixties he tried to revive contacts with western modern music and composers, but after the Soviet invasion to Czechoslovakia was silenced. His works were performed only abroad since then.
Symphonies
- Symphony No. 1 in D for strings and percussions, op.11 (1941 – 1942)
- Symphony No. 2 in C for large orchestra, op. 15 (1942 – 1946)
- Symphony No. 3 in F for organ, brasses and timpani, op. 33 (1948 – 1957)
- Symphony No. 4 in A. "Chamber Symphony", op. 36 (1954 – 1958)
- Symphony No. 5 in B flat minor, "Dramatic", for soprano without text, and orchestra, op. 41 (1960)
- Symphony No. 6 "Concertante", for clarinet and orchestra, op. 44 (1961 – 1962)
- Symphony No. 7 for orchestra and reciter on the composer s text after the Bible, op. 52 (1967 – 1968)
- Symphony No. 8 "Antiphonies", for soprano, mixed choir, percussions and organ, on the words from the Bible, op. 54 (1970)
Further orchestral works
- Overture No. 2 for large orchestra, op. 17 (1947)
- Childish Moods. Little orchestral suite, op. 22 (1955)
- Suite from the music to Sophokles Electra for alto, female choir and orchestra, op. 28a (1956)
- Mystery of Time, Passacaglia for large orchestra, op. 31 (1953 – 1957) SupraphonSupraphonSupraphon Music Publishing is a Czech record label, it is oriented mainly towards publishing classical music, with an emphasis on Czech and Slovak composers.- History :...
Cd - Three Melodramas to accompany the play Kuo Mo-jo "Master of Nine Songs" for reciter and chamber orchestra, op. 34b (1957)
- Hamlet Improvisation for large orchestra, op. 46 (1962 – 1963)
- Reflections. Nine miniatures for orchestra, op. 49 (1963 – 1964)
- Metamorphoses II, for piano and orchestra, op. 58 (1979)
Piano compositions
- Passacaglia TGM, op. 3 (1937)
- 7 compositions for piano, op.14 (1944 – 1947)
- Easy Preludes, op. 26 (1955)
- 8 preludes for piano, op. 30 (1955 – 1956)
- Cizokrajné motivy - Motifs from Foreign Countries, op. 38 (1959)
- Small Suite for piano on 4 hands, op. 42 (1960)
Organ compositions
- Fantasies for organ in G minor and D minor, op. 32 (1957 – 1958)
- 4 preludes for organ, op. 48 (1963)
Other chamber compositions
- Wind Sextet, op. 8 (1940)
- Sonatina for oboe and piano, op. 24 (1955)
- Ballad for violin and piano, op. 27 (1956)
- Suite for saxophone and piano, op. 39 (1959)
- 8 Invenzioni for percussion instruments, op. 45 (1962 – 1963)
- Otto ricercari, for percussion instruments, op. 51 (1966 – 1967)
- Lamenti e risolini 8 bagatelles, for flute and harp, op. 53 (1969)
- Fated Dramas of Man. Sonata for trumpet, piano and percussion instruments with recitation, op. 56 (1975 – 1976)
Compositions for solo voice with accompaniment
- Moravian Lullabies for soprano and chamber orchestra, on texts from folk poetry, op. 20 (1951)
- Love Songs for soprano, baritone and piano, op. 25 (1955)
- Six Lullabies on text folk poetry for alto solo, small female choir and instrumental ensemble, or for alto and piano, op. 29 (1955)
- Hunters Songs for baritone and 4 French horns, op. 37 (1958 – 1959)
- Echoes from Far-away. 5 songs for alto and piano, without words, op. 47 (1963)
Choruses
- 6 choruses for male choir on words by Jiří WolkerJirí WolkerJiří Wolker was a Czech poet, journalist and playwright. He was one of the founding members of CPC - Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1921.- Life :...
, op. 10 (1939 – 1940) - Blue Sky. Children's choruses on the poetry by František HrubínFrantišek HrubínFrantišek Hrubín , was a Czech poet and writer. He was a lifetime member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ....
, after the pictorial cycle of Josef ČapekJosef CapekJosef Čapek was a Czech artist who was best known as a painter, but who was also noted as a writer and a poet. He invented the word robot, which was introduced into literature by his brother, Karel Čapek.- Biography :...
, op. 19 (1950) - To Nature. Cycle of children s choruses on the words of folk poetry, op. 35 (1957 – 1958)
Cantatas
- Do Not Retreat! Cantata for male choir, wind and percussion instruments on folk texts and the words of the chorale "Ye Warriors of God", op. 7 (1939)
- Eufemias Mysterion (Mystery of Silence), for soprano and chamber orchestra to Greek words, op. 50 (1964 – 1965)
- Metamorphoses I of the oldest Czech chorale for mixed choir, solo baritone, male choir and solo higher female voice), op. 57 (1979)
Electro-acoustic music
- E fontibus Bohemicis (6 tableaux from Czech annals), op. 55 (1965 – 1972)