Bořkovec, Pavel

Bořkovec, Pavel, Czech composer; b. Prague, June 10, 1894; d. there, July 22, 1972. He originally studied philosophy, and turned to composition rather late in life; took lessons with Křička and Foerster in 1919. From 1925 to 1927 he attended master classes of Suk at the Prague Cons. From 1946 to 1964 he was on the faculty of the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague. His early works were in the manner of Dvořák and Suk; later he experienced the influence of neo-Classicism and adopted dissonant counterpoint.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: The Satyr (1937-38; Prague, Oct. 8, 1942); Palelek (Tom Thumb; 1945-47; Prague, Dec. 17, 1958). ballet:Krysař (The Pied Piper; 1939; concert perf., Prague, Jan. 15, 1941; first stage perf., Oct. 8, 1942). orch.:Stmívaní (Twilight), symphonic poem (1920); 3 syms. (1926-27; 1955; 1959); The Start, symphonic allegro (1929; Prague, March 26, 1930); 2 piano concertos (1931; 1949-50); Violin Concerto (1933); Partita (1936); Concerto Grosso for 2 Violins, Cello, Orch., and Piano (1941–42); 2 Symphoniettas for Chamber Orch. (1944; 1963-68); Cello Concerto (1950–51). chamber: Piano Quartet (1922); 5 string quartets (1924; 1928; 1940; 1947; 1961-62); Sonata for Solo Viola (1931); Wind Quintet (1932); 2 violin sonatas (1934, 1956); Nonet (1941–42); Violin Sonatina (1942); Intermezzo for Horn and Piano (1965). piano: Suite (1930); Partita (1935); 2 Pieces (1941–42). vocal:Jen jedenkrat (Only Once), melodrama (1921); Stadion (The Stadium) for Voice, Wind Quintet, and Piano (1929); Love Songs for Voice and Piano or Small Orch., after Goethe and Villon (1932); 5 Songs, after Pasternak (1935); 6 Madrigals about Time for Chorus (1957); Silentium Turbatum, symphonic movement for Alto, Orch., and Electric Guitar (Prague, Feb. 28, 1965); Te Deum for Soli, Chorus, and Orch. (1968).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire