Chlubna, Osvald

Chlubna, Osvald, Czech composer; b. Brünn, June 22, 1893; d. there (Brno), Oct. 30, 1971. Following attendance at the Czech Technical Coll. (1911–13) and the Commercial Academy (1913–14), he studied composition with Janáček at the Brno Organ School (1914–15); he later attended Janáček’s master class in Brno (1923–24). Although Chlubna made his living as a bank clerk until 1953, he devoted much time to composing. He also taught at the Cons. (1919-35; 1953-59) and at the Janáček Academy of Music (1956–58) in Brno. His works followed along Romantic lines, being notable for their lyrical and rhapsodic elements. Chlubna orchestrated act three of Janáček’s first opera, Šárka. With B. Bakala, he rev. and reorchestrated Janáček’s last opera, Z mrtvého domu (From the House of the Dead), for its posthumous premiere. He also completed Janáček’s unfinished symphonic poem, Dunaj (The Danube). His multi-vol. study of Janáček’s compositional style remains in MS.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Pomsta Catullova (Ca-tullus’s Revenge; 1917; Brno, Nov. 30, 1921; rev. 1959); Alladina a Palomid čili Síla touhy (Alladina and Palomid, or The Power of Desire; 1921-22; Brno, Jan. 31, 1925); Nura (1928-30; Brno, May 20, 1932); V den poôâtku (In the Day of the Beginning; Brno, Jan. 24, 1936); Freje pana z Heslova (The Affairs of the Lord of Heslov; 1939; Brno, Jan. 28, 1949); Jiñ z Kunstátu a Podëbrad (Jirí of Kunstát and Podëbrady; 1941); Kolébka (The Cradle; 1952); Eupyros (n.d.). O R C H. : Distance and Dreams (1916); Sinfonietta (1924); 3 syms.: No. 1, Symphony of Life and Love (1927), No. 2, Brno Symphony (1946), and No. 3 (1960); From the Hillsides, Mountains, and Forests (1934); Piano Concerto (1937); Cello Concerto (1938); Nature and Man: From the Spring, Summer Serenade, and Autumn Carnival (1949–53); Violin Concerto (1950); This Is My Country: The Fountains of Brno, Macocha Ravine, Oh, Upwards, Boys, Upwards!, Pernstejn Castle, and My Land is Beautiful (1955–57). chamber: 5 string quartets (1925, 1928,1933, 1963,1969); Sonata for Violin and Cello (1925); Violin Sonata (1948); Cello Sonata (1948); piano pieces. vocal: Cantatas; choral cycles; song cycles.

Bibliography

M. černohorská, O. C.(Brno, 1963).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire