Miloslav Kabeláč

Portrait of Miloslav Kabelac

Miloslav Kabeláč (1908, Prague – 1979) 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.

Life

In 1928-1931 he studied at Prague Conservatory 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.

Works

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) Supraphon 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 Wolker, op. 10 (1939 – 1940)
• Blue Sky. Children's choruses on the poetry by František Hrubín, after the pictorial cycle of Josef Čapek, 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)

See also

• Category:Compositions by Miloslav Kabeláč

References

Jiří Vysloužil: Hudební slovník pro každého II. Vizovice: Lípa, 2001. ISBN 80-86093-23-9

External links

• Extensive Biography

Persondata
Name	Kabelac, Miloslav
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1908
Place of birth
Date of death	1979
Place of death