Bohumil Fidler

Fidler, Bohumil (1860-1944)

Bohumil Fidler, Czech composer, choirmaster, choral conductor and music teacher was born May 27, 1860 in Příbram, where he lived and worked his entire life. He died in Příbram June 2, 1944.

His autobiography, "Můj život a vzpomínky" ("My Life and Memories"), published in 1935, is noteworthy for its numerous recollections of his musical friendship with Czech composer Antonín Dvořák, as well as his experiences with many other lesser known Czech musicians. An annotated English translation of these memoirs has recently been published by the Dvořák Society for Czech and Slovak Music [http://www.dvorak-society.org/] .

Fidler was a foremost figure in the musical life of Příbram and the surrounding region. Upon completing his education, he taught at the local teachers college until 1889, and subsequently served as choir director at St. Jacob's Church. For more than 15 years Fidler was also the choirmaster of Příbram's "Lumir-Dobromila" choral association. Additionally, he founded the Příbram Philharmonic Orchestra and was its conductor from 1908-1913.

Bohumil Fidler's compositions include two "Missa brevi", two "Pastorale" Masses, a celebratory Mass for mixed choir, soloists, orchestra and organ, and numerous smaller works for chorus as well as songs for solo voice. For the stage he wrote music for two fairy tales: "Mikeš Lomidrevo" and "Zvířátka a Petrovští". His "Slavonic Waltz" was composed for the Příbram Philharmonic Orchestra; he also wrote 20 funeral marches for military band.

References

Neil Butterworth (1980), "Dvořák", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0.89524.206.0

Otakar Šourek (1985), "Antonín Dvořák Letters and Reminiscences" translated from the Czech by Roberta Finlayson Samsour, Da Capo Press

Československý hudební slovník osob a institucí. 1. vyd. Sv. 1. Praha : Státní hudební vydavatelství, 1963, s. 318

Bohumil Fidler (1935), Můj život a vzpomínky, published by Pelz, Příbram

Sonya Szabo Reynolds, editor (2008), " Bohumil Fidler: 'My Life and Memories' ", The Dvorak Society for Czech and Slovak Music, ISBN 978-095327696-7 (soft bound), ISBN 978-095327697-4 (hard bound)