Favorite Czech composers.

[Artran]

My favourite Czech composers are ZELENKA and JANÁČEK. After that, despite their small œuvre, I really like Černohorský, Michna and Brentner. From classical era is my favourite composer Franz Benda, but I need to explore this period more deeply.

Martinů used to be very dear to me, but I've listened him too much in one period of my life and I'm avoiding him now. That being said, I consider him a great composer. From romantic era I like Smetana more than Dvořák, but I know both fairly well. I especially like Smetana's and Dvořák's string quartets and Smetana's operas. I rememember I enjoyed Suk, but that was more than ten years ago, so I need to listen to him again. Fibich or Foerster didn't catch me much, although Foerster's string quartets have some nice moments. From 20th century composers I like Kaprálová, Ježek, Schulhoff, Haas, Kalabis, Kopelent, Husa, Kabeláč, Eben, Smolka, Zouhar, Srnka and Adámek, but none of them is comparable to my real favourites, with, maybe, exception of Kaprálová. What a shame she died so young...

[André]

I have some Kabelac (a symphony, the Hamlet Improvisation and another piece) but I have trouble coming to terms with his special mix of castor oil and hot mustard music making. The symphonies are available on Supraphon, but that set is very low on my wish list.

[Artran]

I have some Kabelac (a symphony, the Hamlet Improvisation and another piece) but I have trouble coming to terms with his special mix of castor oil and hot mustard music making. The symphonies are available on Supraphon, but that set is very low on my wish list.

This Kabeláč's album is on Spotify.

[Karl Henning]

I have some Kabelac (a symphony, the Hamlet Improvisation and another piece) but I have trouble coming to terms with his special mix of castor oil and hot mustard music making.

I suppose in part because those ingestibles are not how I should characterize the music    somehow I took to Kabeláč right away.

This Kabeláč album is on Spotify.

If I could only listen to one of the symphonies, which one would you suggest?  0:)

[Daverz]

No love for Fibich?

Sticking to composers who would have had some consciousness of being "Czech" composers

Dvorak
Janacek
Martinu
Suk
Novak
Smetana
Fibich
Kalabis

Moyzes was Slovak, and what I've heard is very good.   I need to catch up with that symphony series on Marco Polo.

I have two 3-CD box sets of the music of Kalabis, one on Supraphon and one on MSR, and they do not overlap.  Both are filled with excellent music that I would describe as "accessible modern".  His music is more cosmopolitan than the other composers, though.

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[Artran]

If I could only listen to one of the symphonies, which one would you suggest?  0:)

That's good opportunity to relisten them...! I'll give you the answer tommorow

[Karl Henning]

Thanks!

[vandermolen]

No love for Fibich?

Sticking to composers who would have had some consciousness of being "Czech" composers

Dvorak
Janacek
Martinu
Suk
Novak
Smetana
Fibich
Kalabis

Moyzes was Slovak, and what I've heard is very good.   I need to catch up with that symphony series on Marco Polo.

I have two 3-CD box sets of the music of Kalabis, one on Supraphon and one on MSR, and they do not overlap.  Both are filled with excellent music that I would describe as "accessible modern".  His music is more cosmopolitan than the other composers, though.

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I agree and that box contains the great performance of 'Sinfonia Pacis' with its redemptive 'tolling bell like' conclusion. It reminds me a bit, in that respect of the end of Frank Bridge's eloquent 'Oration'. It is much better than the live Smetacek performance of 'Sinfonia Pacis' that appeared on CD some years ago.

[Rinaldo]

Ah, always warms my heart to see love directed towards 'my' people.

As for favourites, right now I'd say:

  1. Miloslav Kabeláč
  2. Bohuslav Martinů
  3. Jan Dismas Zelenka
  4. Petr Eben (especially his highly accomplished, doom-laden organ works)
  5. Antonín Dvořák
  6. Miroslav Srnka (our best contemporary composer IMO)
  7. Vítězslava Kaprálová
  8. Josef Suk
  9. Bedřich Smetana
10. Ivan Kurz

Where's Janáček? Safe & sound in my "composers I'm struggling with" drawer.

[Artran]

Thanks!

So, I've listened again symphonies #3, #4, #5 and #8.

#1, #2, #6 and #7 I've heard for the first time.

I'd say that the most representative is #8, because it's a very good synthesis. Anyway, my favourites are probably #2 and #3. Especially #2 was a nice discovery. If I should recommend only one, it would be either #8 or #2.

#1, #4 and #6 I'd put somewhere in the middle.

#5 I didn't like too much and about #7 I've mixed feelings.

Maybe Rinaldo should put his recommendations on the table as well, when Kabeláč is his most favourite czech composer ;-)

Miroslav Srnka (our best contemporary composer IMO)

Did you heard anything from Ondřej Adámek? I'd say he's maybe on par with Srnka.

[Artran]

Even though he's Polish, I'll namedrop Boguslaw Shaeffer. Been a fan of him for years but never really have much of a chance to plug his work because of his largely unavailable catalogue, despite being highly prolific 

It's a bit off to mention Slovak composer Moyzes here, but Polish? Really?

[North Star]

It's a bit off to mention Slovak composer Moyzes here, but Polish? Really?

Indeed. Also - Boguslaw? Are you sure he's even real?  0:)

[vandermolen]

Hi !  Last summer, I crossed the Tatras chain on the Tatranska Magistralia, which runs parallel to the Polish/Slovak border.  Below a couple of lowres pictures.  So when I came back, I had to listen to Novak Tatras suite.  I got the earlier recording that is posted on the Novak thread.  The music somehow did not match the personal impressions we got on this 6 day hike.  Somehow, the suite feels more wintery, "brooding" as you say.  There can be extreme wind storm there, although we did not experience them.

What a great story and the photos are beautiful - makes me want to go there. Thank you for posting them.

[Karl Henning]

So, I've listened again symphonies #3, #4, #5 and #8.

#1, #2, #6 and #7 I've heard for the first time.

I'd say that the most representative is #8, because it's a very good synthesis. Anyway, my favourites are probably #2 and #3. Especially #2 was a nice discovery. If I should recommend only one, it would be either #8 or #2.

Thank you!

[vandermolen]

Novak is Slovak

Really? He seems to be usually associated with Czech music and is the composer of the South Bohemian Suite.

[Rinaldo]

Really? He seems to be usually associated with Czech music and is the composer of the South Bohemian Suite.

Novák was Czech, born right here in Southern Bohemia.

[Mirror Image]

Yep, Novák was most definitely a Czech composer despite the ridiculous claims that he wasn't.

[schnittkease]

Are any of you familiar with the music of Alois Hába (1893-1973)? I recently ordered his complete string quartets. Hába experimented with microtonality throughout his life, so his generous output of 16 string quartets seems right up my alley.



I will definitely post what I think when the CD arrives.

[Turner]

Are any of you familiar with the music of Alois Hába (1893-1973)? I recently ordered his complete string quartets. Hába experimented with microtonality throughout his life, so his generous output of 16 string quartets seems right up my alley.



I will definitely post what I think when the CD arrives.

I didn´t know all his string quartets had been recorded now, very interesting. I´d like to hear some characterizations of the earlier quartets, what style they express.

Haba was certainly an ambitious and original composer, and the music is not only about quarter- and microtones, there are some romantic traits as well.

There´s a 3-CD box from Suprahon with orchestral works, including the symphonic fantasy "Life´s Way", that was promoted by Scherchen, and a big half-hour work for piano and orchestra, plus chamber works etc.
His opera "The Mother" has also received a fair amount of attention in Czech music life & was recorded many years ago.

This is what I´ve got:

CD  Haba:"New Land", Opera Ouverture op.47 ()/Konicek,FilmSO/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913

LP   Haba:"Life´s Way" op. 46 (1934)/Kosler,CzPO/pant 79 8110 0005
CD  Haba:"Life´s Way" op.46 (1934/Konicek,FilmSO/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Symphonic Fantasia" f.Piano & Orch. Op.8 ()/Koula,Konicek,FilmSO/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913

CD  Haba:"1.Nonet, Fantasia" op.40 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
LP   Haba:"1.Nonet, Fantasia" op.40 ()/Czech9/sup mono dv 5991

CD  Haba:"11.String Quartet" op.87 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
LP   Haba:"11.String Quartet" op.87 ()/Novak4/sup mono dv 5991
CD  Haba:"12.String Quartet" op.90 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
LP   Haba:"12.String Quartet" op.90 ()/Novak4/sup mono dv 5991
LP   Haba:"13.String Quartet, Astronaut-" op.92 ()/Novak4/sup mono dv 5991
LP   Haba:"14.String Quartet", in quarter tones op.94 (1963)/Suk4/pant 74 11 0364
CD  Haba:"15.String Quartet" op.95 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"16.String Quartet" op.98 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
LP   Haba:"16.String Quartet", i fifth-tones op.98 (1967)/Suk47pant 74 11 0364

CD  Haba:"Quartet for 4 Bassoons" op.74 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Quartet for 4 Trombones" op.72 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Suite for Bass Clarinet & Piano nr.1" op.24 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Suite for Bas Clarinet & Piano" op.100 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
LP   Haba:"Suite for Bass-Clarinet & Piano" op.100 ()/Horak,Kovarnova/pant 74 11 0364

LP   Haba:"Fantasia for Solo-Violin" op.9a (1922-23)/Novak/pant 74 11 0364
CD  Haba:"Suite for Solo Cello" op.81a ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Partita for Solo Saxophone" op.99 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Suite for Quarter-Tone Piano" op.88 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Sonata for Quarter-Tone Piano" op.62 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913
CD  Haba:"Suite for Dulcimer Solo" op.91 ()/Solister/sup 3cd 11 1865 2913

[Wanderer]

Top favourites:

Janáček
Dvořák
Zelenka
Martinů


I like a great deal of music by most other names already mentioned (Suk, Fibich, Smetana, etc.).

4. Petr Eben (especially his highly accomplished, doom-laden organ works)

Yes!