Hába, Karel

Hába, Karel, Czech composer and music educator, brother of Alois Hába; b. Vizovice, Moravia, May 21, 1898; d. Prague, Nov. 21, 1972. He spent his entire life in Prague, where he studied violin with Karel Hoffmann and Jan Mařák, and theory with Novák, Křícka, and Foerster at the Cons.; he also attended his brother’s class in quarter-tone music there (1925–27). After playing violin in the Czech Radio Orch. (1929–36), he was head of the music education dept. of the Czech Radio (1936–50). He then lectured on music education at the Charles Univ. (1951–63), and also was active as a music critic. Hába faithfully followed the athematic method of composition espoused by his brother.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Jánošík (1929-32; Prague, Feb. 23, 1934); Stará historia (The Old Story; 1934-37); Smoliček, children’s opera (Prague, Sept. 28, 1950); Kalibüv zločin (Kaliba’s Crime; 1957-61; Košice, May 16, 1968). ORCH.: Overture (1922); Violin Concerto (Prague, March 6, 1927); Scherzo (1928); Cello Concerto (Prague, Sept. 1, 1935); 2 syms. (1947-48; 1953-54); Brieand’s Suite (1955); Suite (1963). CHAMBER: 4 string quartets (1922, 1924, 1943, 1969); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Quarter Tone Piano (1926); 3 Pieces for Violin and Piano in quarter tones (1927); Flute Sonatina (1927); Septet for Violin, Clarinet, Viola, Horn, Cello, Bassoon, and Piano (1928–29); Duo for Violin and Cello (1935); Piano Trio (1940); Wind Quintet (1944); 3 Inventions for Harp (1945); Nonet (1950); Trio for 2 Violins and Viola (1952); 15 Concert Études for Violin (1956); Sonatina for 2 Violins (1960); Sonatina for 3 Clarinets (1960); 3 Instructive Duos for 2 Violins (1968). piano: 2 suites (1920, 1929); Suite for Quarter Tone Piano (1925); Sonata (1942). VOCAL: Cantata; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire