Horák, Josef

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Horák, Josef

Horak, Josef, Czech bass clarinetist; b. Znojmo, March 24, 1931. He attended the Brno Cons. (1945–51). He was a clarinetist in the Brno State Phil, and Prague Radio Sym. Orch. On Oct. 20, 1955, he made his debut as a performer on the bass clarinet, and began a career as a virtuoso on that instrument; along with the Dutch bass clarinetist Harry Sparnaay, Horak is responsible for the revival of interest in the bass clarinet. In 1963 he and the pianist Emma Kovârnovâ formed the chamber duo Due Boemi di Praga, and performed numerous specially commissioned works by Alois Hâba, Jolivet, Martin, Messiaen, Stockhausen, and many, many others. In 1972 he was appointed to the faculty of the Prague Cons.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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