Kapr, Jan

Kapr, Jan, Czech composer; b. Prague, March 12, 1914; d. there, April 29, 1988. He studied with his father, a musician, then composition with Řídký and later with Křička in his master class at the Prague Cons. (1933–40). He was a music producer for the Czech Radio in Prague (1939–46), a music critic (1946–49), and an ed. in music publishing (1950–54); from 1961 to 1970 he taught at the Janáček Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Brno. His style of composition is derived from the Czech national school; in his later works, he audaciously introduced modernistic serial procedures. He publ. a vol. on contemporary music entitled Konstanty (The Constants; Prague, 1967).

Works

dramatic:Opera: Muzikantská pohádka (Musicians’ Fairy Tale; 1962). orch.: 3 piano concertos (1938, 1953, 1986); Marathon, symphonic scherzo (1939); Sinfonietta for Small Orch. (1940); 10 syms.: No. 1 (1943), No. 2 (1946), No. 3 for Small Orch. (1946), No. 4 (1957), No. 5, Olympijsá (Olympic; 1959), No. 6 (1960; rev. 1964), No. 7, Krajina dětstvi (Country of Childhood), for Children’s Chorus and Orch. (1968), No. 8, Campanae Pragenses (The Bells of Prague), for Chorus, Orch., and Bell Sounds on Tape (1970), No. 9 (1982), and No. 10, Lanžhotská, for 2 Vocal Soloists and Orch. (1985); Harvested, symphonic rhapsody (1950); Zitra (Tomorrow), symphonic picture (1953); Léto (Summer) for Chamber Orch. (1954); Allegretto for Violin and Orch. (1955); Violin Concerto (1955); Variations for Flute and Strings (1958); Concertino for Viola and Wind Orch. (1965); Omaggio alla tromba for 2 Solo Trumpets, Wind Orch., Piano, and Timpani (1967–68); Anachron for Chamber Orch. (1974); Concertino for Clarinet and Chamber Ensemble (1975). chamber: 8 string quartets (1937; 1941; 1954; 1957; 1961; with Baritone, 1963; 1965; 1976); Nonet (1943); Fantasy for Violin and Piano (1958); 4 Moods for Nonet (1959); Šifry (Ciphers) for Piano, Percussion, and Tape (1966); Oscilace (Oscillation) for Violin, Clarinet, Trumpet, Piano, Cello, and Percussion (1965); Rotation 9 for Piano Quartet (1967); Shadow Play and Dreambook for Soprano, Flute, and Harp (1968); Sonata for Solo Cimbalom (1968); Testimonies for Cello, Bass Clarinet, Piano, and Light Source (1969); Woodcuts for 8 Brass (1973); Colors of Silence for 8 Instruments (1973); Circuli for Violin and Accordion (1974); Sonata for Flute, Horn, and Piano (1976); Claricello for Clarinet and Cello (1981); Miniatures for Winds and Cello (1985). Piano: 4 sonatas (1945, 1947, 1958, 1980). other: Cantatas; choruses; film music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire