Bláha, Ivo

Bláha, Ivo, Czech composer and teacher; b. Li-tomyšl, March 14, 1936. He was a student of Řidký and Sommer at the Prague Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts (M.A., 1958), where he pursued postgraduate studies with Hlobil (1965–70); he also worked under Herzog and Kabeláč at the experimental studio of the Czech Radio in Plzeň (1969–70). He taught composition (1964–72) and was a reader on the film and television faculty (from 1967) of the Prague Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts. In 1988 he completed his Habilitation there as a Dozent, and later was head of its dept. of sound creation of its film and television faculty (from 1993).

Works

DRAMATIC: Film and television scores. ORCH.: Concerto for Orchestra (1957); Percussion Concerto (1964); Violin Concerto (1968); Per archi, sinfonia (1977). CHAMBER: Wind Quintet (1956); 3 string quartets (1957, 1966, 1983); 3 Pieces for Violin and Piano (1961); Spring Plays, suite for Wind Quintet (1962); Sonatina semplice for Trombone and Piano (1963); Solitude, sonata for Solo Violin (1965); Music for 5 Wind Instruments (1965); Music to Pictures of a Friend for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet (1971); Cello Sonata (1972); 2 Inventions for Flute (1974); Variations on a Czech Folk Song for 3 Flutes (1975); Duo for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1975); With Respect for Old Maestros for Violin and Piano (1978); Violin for Violin (1979); Sonnets for Brass Ensemble (1980); Sonata transparenta for Flute and Piano (1982); 2 sets of Zoolessons for Guitar (1984, 1987); Imagination for Violin and Piano (1988); Sonata introspettiva for Solo Viola (1989). keyboard: piano:3Toccata Studies (1967); Rays (1976); Prelude for Cat (1979). Organ: Hymnus (1980); Vaults (1986). VOCAL: What’s Beauty in the World, cantata cycle for Children’s Chorus and Chamber Orch. or Wind Quintet or Piano (1958); Sentences About Life, Death, and Eternal Time for Men’s Chorus (1968); Cet amour for Speaker, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Tape (1973–75); Moravian Lullabies for Soprano, Flute, and Piano (1982); various children’s choral pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire