Blatný, Pavel

Blatný, Pavel, Czech pianist, conductor, teacher, and composer, b. Brno, Sept. 14, 1931. He began music studies with his father, and then had instruction in piano and theory at the Brno Cons. (1950–55) and in musicology at the Univ. of Brno (1954–58). He also took composition lessons with Bořkovec at the Prague Academy of Music (1955–59) and attended summer courses of new music at Darmstadt (1965–69). In 1968 he traveled to the U.S. and took lessons in jazz piano and composition at the Berklee Coll. of Music in Boston. He wrote a vast number of works, some of them paralleling the development of “third-stream music” initiated in the U.S. by Schuller. He also gave countless piano recitals in programs of modern music, conducted a great many concerts, and participated in programs of the Czech Radio. In 1971 he was appointed chief of the music division of the television station in Brno. He also taught at the Janáček Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Brno (from 1979). He retired from these posts in 1991. In his later compositions, he turned to “serious” music, albeit with tonal manifestations.

Works

DRAMATIC: Prohádky lesa (Studánka a Domeček) (Forest Tales [The Well and Little House]), 2 television operas for children (1975); 3 musicals. 3rd-stream music:Per orchestra sintetica for Jazz and Classic Wind Orch. (1960); Concerto for Jazz Orch. (1962–64); Étude for Quarter Tone Trumpet (1964); Tre per S+H for Jazz Septet (1964); Dialogue for Soprano Saxophone and Jazz Orch. (1959–64); 10’30” for Sym. Orch. (1965); D-E-F-G-A-H- C for Jazz Orch. (1968); Quattro per Amsterdam for Soprano, Chamber Orch., and Jazz Orch. (1969); 3 Pieces for E. Verschuaeren for Big Band (1971); Suite for Gustav Brom (1972); 3 Sketches for Chorus and Jazz Orch. (1973); 4 Movements for Big Band (1973); In Modo Classico for String Quartet and Jazz Orch. (1973); In Modo Archaico for Piano and Jazz Orch. (1974); Concertino for Clarinet and Jazz Orch. (1974); Picture for Jazz Orch. (1976); Trumpeters for Jazz Orch. (1977); Chime for Jazz Orch. (1978); Intermezzo for Vocalist and Jazz Trio (1978); Uno pezzo per due Boemi for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1981); Collage for Jazz Orch. (1981); Signals for Big Band (1983); Nenia for Jazz Orch. (1985); Jazz Roll Call for Jazz Orch. (1986); Dialogue for Cello and Jazz Trio (1987); Litany for Jazz Orch. (1990). ORCH.: Music for Piano and Orch. (1955); Concerto for Orch. (1956); Concerto for Chamber Orch. (1958); Movement for Strings (1976); Circle for Strings (1977); 2 Movements for Brass Ensemble (1979); Zvony (The Bells), symphonic movement (1981); Hommage à Gustav Mahler (1982); Sym. (1984); Collage—hommage à J.S. Bach (1984); Nenia for my Mother (1985); Jubilee Collage (1986); Anti-Variations on a Theme of Antonin Dvorak (1990); Vëta (1995); Ein Lied (1995). CHAMBER: Suite for Winds and Piano (1958); Suite 12 for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1961); Debate for Violin, Accordion, and Guitar (1971); Scene for Brasses for Brass Quintet (1972); 2: 3 for Wind Quintet (1975); Due pezzi per quintetto d’ottoni (1978); Musica cameralis per Ars earneralis for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (1981); Groping for Flute and Guitar (1982); Circle for Saxophone Quartet (1983); ...And a Little Song... for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1986); Dialogue for Flute and Piano (1990); Measures for 4 Bassoons (1997); Prologueand Epilogue for Wind Ensemble (1997). VOCAL: Cantatas: The Willow Tree (1980); Christmas Eve (1982); The Noonday Witch (1982); The Water Sprite (1988); The Peculiar Loves (1989); Mass (1993); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire