Karel Husa (1921 - 2016)

Started by Scion7, April 21, 2016, 07:16:52 AM

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Scion7

Czech composer born in Prague, August 7, 1921. He's ninety-five.  Husa studied the violin and piano because his parents wanted him to be able to enjoy music while pursuing the practical career of an engineer. He was already enrolled in engineering school when the Nazis took over Czechoslovakia and closed all the technical schools. Studied at the Prague Conservatory for four years beginning in 1941.  Studied in Paris with Honnegar.  His first string quartet garnered a great deal of fame in 1951.  His third string quartet won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969.  His Cello Concerto won the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition in 1993. He emigrated to America in 1954, and joined the faculty at Cornell.  Husa became a U.S. citizen in 1959. He won other various awards throughout his life, including the Czech Republic giving him the Gold Medal of Merit in 1995. He and his wife Simone (m. 1948) live in North Carolina, after living in Ithaca, NY for 40 years.  His modernist music has been described as "aggressive."


     Orchestral                                                                                      Chamber
==================                                                     ==========================
Concerto for Brass Quintet & Strings, 1971                                        Sonatina for Violin & Piano, Op.6
Overture for Large Orchestra, Op.3, 1944                                          3 Studies for Solo Clarinet, 2008
Sinfonietta for Chamber Orchestra, Op.4, 1944                                  Sonatina for Flute & Piano, 2003 (based on Op. 6)
4 Easy Pieces for Oboe, Trumpet, Percussion & Strings, 1952            Postcard from Home, for Alto Sax & Piano, 1997
Divertimento for Strings, 1948                                                        Suite for Viola & Piano, Op.5 1945
3 Frescoes for Orchestra, Op.7, 1947                                               2 Preludes for Flute, Clarinet & Bassoon, 1966
Concertino for Piano & Orchestra, Op.10, 1949                                  String Quartet No.1, Op.8 1948 
Portrait, for Strings, 1953                                                               String Quartet No.2, 1953
Symphony Nr.1, 1953                                                                    String Quartet No.3, 1968
4 Little Pieces for Strings, 1955                                                        Divertimento, brass quintet, 1968
Fantasies, 1956                                                                              String Quartet "0", 1943
Poème, Viola & Chamber Orchestra, 1959                                           Studies, percussion, 1968
Elégie et rondeau, alto sax, orch, 1961, arr. alto sax, piano                   Sonata for violin & piano, 1973
Mosaïques, 1961                                                                              Landscapes for Brass Quintet, 1977
Fresque, rev. 1963                                                                           3 Dance Sketches for Percussion, 1979
Serenade for Woodwind Quintet & Strings, 1963                                 Intradas and Interludes, 7 tpt, timp, 1980
Concerto for Brass Quintet, Strings & Piano, 1965                               Sonata à tre for violin, clarinet & piano, 1982
2 Sonnets from Michelangelo, 1971                                                   Recollections, Woodwind Quintet & Piano, 1982
Pastoral for Strings, 1979                                                                 Variations for Piano Quartet, 1984
Symphony No.2 'Reflections', 1983                                                    String Quartet No.4 'Poems', 1990
Symphonic Suite, 1984                                                                    5 Poems, woodwind quintet, 1994
Concerto for Orchestra, 1986                                                            Tubafest Celebration, for tuba quartet, 1992
Organ Concerto, 1987                                                                      Drum Ceremony for 5 Percussionists, 1976
Trumpet Concerto, 1987                                                      Cayuga Lake (Memories) for Woodwind & Brass Quartet, Piano & Percussion, 1991                                                                        Evocations de Slovaquie, for Viola, Flute & Cello, 1951
Overture, 'Youth', 1991                                                                                       
Cello Concerto, 1988
Celebración, 1997                                                                                          Wind Band
Violin Concerto, 1991                                                     ============================
                                                                                        Divertimento, brass, percussion, 1959
                                                                                       Concerto for alto sax & concert band, 1967
                                                                                       Concertino for Piano & Wind Ensemble
                                                                                        Music for Prague 1968, arr. orch, 1968
                                                                                         Concerto for Percussion & Wind Ensemble, 1970–71
                                                                                         Apotheosis of this Earth, 1971, arr. voices, orch, 1972
    Piano works                                                                 Concerto for 7 Trumpets & Percussion, 1973
=======================                                     Smetana Fanfare, 1984
Sonatina, 1943                                                                    Les couleurs fauves, 1994
Piano Sonata Nr.1, 1949                                                       Concerto for Winds, 1982
Piano Sonata Nr.2, 1975                                                       Al fresco, 1973
Elegie, 1957                                                                        Intradas and Interludes, 7 trumpets, percussion, 1980
8 Czech Duets for Piano 4-hands, 1955
Frammenti for Organ, 1987                                  Ballet
                                                                =====================
                                                                  The Steadfast Tin Soldier (H.C. Andersen), 1974
                                                                   Monodrama, orch, 1976, 
                                                                   The Trojan Women, orch, 1981
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Karl Henning

40 years is long enough for living in Ithaca, lawd knows!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Scion7

Quote from: karlhenning on April 21, 2016, 08:17:35 AM
40 years is long enough for living in Ithaca, lawd knows!

But ... but I heard it was the "Paris of New York"?    ???
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Parsifal

Quote from: karlhenning on April 21, 2016, 08:17:35 AM
40 years is long enough for living in Ithaca, lawd knows!

Veritable hell on earth


Karl Henning

Quote from: Scion7 on April 21, 2016, 08:55:02 AM
But ... but I heard it was the "Paris of New York"?    ???

Oh, that is surely overselling the place.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Cato

Quote from: karlhenning on April 21, 2016, 09:09:12 AM
Oh, that is surely overselling the place.

That must be Potemkin Street!   8)

Husa was fairly big in the 1960's and 1970's.  It looked as if he would take the crown from Martinu as "top Czech composer" of his day.

Maybe he did for a while (?).
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Scion7

#6


I forgot what this was. Damn the eyes of eBay sellers that delete fotos!
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Heck148

Husa is a fine composer.

I had the opportunity to perform his "Music for Prague" in 1970 with Eastman Wind Ensemble, at the Eastman United Nations Concert of that year...Husa was in attendance, and the EWE gave a very powerful performance...
this music still holds place as one of the best Wind Band pieces of relatively recent times.
I also enjoy his "Trojan Women" -very effective

snyprrr

What does he have that ranks alongside 'Music for Prague'? (Hunsberger in this case)

I wasn't really sold on the post-Bartokian, Pulitzer winning String Quartet No.3.


btw- great OP!

snyprrr

Oh that's right, he is now officially the Oldest Living Famous Modern Composer. Well, after him it gets prrrrrrrrretty dicey. Gonna have to dig deep into the Academic Serial World for the next one.

Gotterdammerung is passed?

snyprrr

Actually seems like quite a sparse Works List, eh? Not too many works in the '67-'73 era... lots of "Early" stuff... nothing after the early '90s?

Heck148

Quote from: snyprrr on April 22, 2016, 09:29:47 AM
Oh that's right, he is now officially the Oldest Living Famous Modern Composer. Well, after him it gets prrrrrrrrretty dicey. Gonna have to dig deep into the Academic Serial World for the next one.

How about Penderecki?? Corigliano??

Scion7

#12
I imagine ill-health curtailed his career some 20 years ago - the man is ancient.  And remember - Mahler has one of the shortest works-lists of all.   :)
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

mc ukrneal

Whatever else you may think, Ithaca has excellent restaurants.

As to Husa, he retired in 1992, at the young age of 71. SO perhaps he can be forgiven the dearth of works published since then (and who knows, maybe he still composes at home, but doesn't release anything). He also moved south (North Carolina), where it is warmer. By the way, Christopher Rouse studied with him.

As to other works, one could try the cello concerto or first string quartet.
Be kind to your fellow posters!!

Cato

"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

snyprrr

Quote from: Heck148 on April 22, 2016, 09:38:03 AM
How about Penderecki?? Corigliano??

oops, forgeot Pendy.... Corigliano proves my point, though yea, he's "famous"  (sorry, just can't stand him- it's me, not youse)

Quote from: mc ukrneal on April 23, 2016, 06:09:50 AM
Whatever else you may think, Ithaca has excellent restaurants.

As to Husa, he retired in 1992, at the young age of 71. SO perhaps he can be forgiven the dearth of works published since then (and who knows, maybe he still composes at home, but doesn't release anything). He also moved south (North Carolina), where it is warmer. By the way, Christopher Rouse studied with him.

As to other works, one could try the cello concerto or first string quartet.
[/b][/b]


OH NOOOOOOES!!!!!!! better go to the bathroom FIRST!!!!




thanks for pieces


Cato

Quote from: snyprrr on April 23, 2016, 06:43:15 AM
oops, forgeot Pendy.... Corigliano proves my point, though yea, he's "famous"  (sorry, just can't stand him- it's me, not youse)
[/b][/b]

OH NOOOOOOES!!!!!!! better go to the bathroom FIRST!!!!

thanks for pieces

Enough with the Captain Crunch soaked in Mountain Dew!   ;)


Also:

https://www.youtube.com/v/uZslJ4xMaj4
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Scion7

#17
Captain Crunch soaked in Mountain Dew?
Ghastly.  And having been a resident on the NC/SC border for 12 years now, I've yet to see that.
Dear God.  :blank:   They do boil peanuts - and that's quite bad enough.  Bleah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-TiJkE5Hwg
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Scion7

#18


[asin]B0013Z9ARK[/asin]
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot