Kopelent, Marek

Kopelent, Marek, Czech composer; b. Prague, April 28, 1932. He was a student of Ŕodký at the Prague Academy of Music (1951–55). From 1956 to 1971 he worked as a music ed. for Supraphon, and from 1965 to 1973 he served as artistic director of the Musica viva Pragensis ensemble. In 1969-70 he was active in Berlin on a Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst scholarship. In 1991 he became a prof, of composition at the Prague Academy of Music. In his works, Kopelent has made use of the resources of the multimedia avantkgarde.

Works

dramatic:Bludný Mas (The Wandering Voice) for Actress, Chamber Ensemble, and Film and Light Projection ad libitum (1969–70); Musica, comic opera for Soprano, 2 Actors, Flute, Oboe, and Harpsichord (1979); Lament of Women, melodrama-monologue for Actress, 7 Brass, 4 Women’s Voices, and Children’s Chorus (1980). orch.:3 Movements for Strings (1958); Contemplation for Chamber Orch. (1966); Quarrels for 12 Solo Instruments and Orch. (1967-68; Prague, March 7, 1969); Seclusion for Viola and Chamber Orch. (1968); Appassionato for Piano and Orch. (1970–71); A Few Minutes with an Oboist for Oboe and Chamber Orch. (1972); Veronika’s Veil for 11 Strings (1972–73); A Cozy Chat for Saxophone and Orch. (1974–75); Sym. (1982-83; Basel, Feb. 17, 1983); Concertino for English Horn and Small Orch. (1984); Musique concertante for Solo Cello, 12 Cellos, and Orch. (1991–92); ARRIÎJAh (1996). chamber: 5 string quartets (1954, 1955, 1963, 1967, 1980); Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1962); Trio for Flute, Bass Clarinet, and Piano (1962); Reflexe for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1962); Music for 5 for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Viola, and Piano (1964); Intimissimo for Chamber Group (1972); Musique piquante for Violin and Cimbalom (1971); Wind Quintet (1972); Rondo for 5 Percussionists (1973); Taps for Harp, Harpsichord, Cimbalom, and Guitar (1974); Capriccio for Trumpet (1976); Etres fins en mouvement for 6 Percussionists (1989). vocal:Bread and Birds, oratorio (1957–62); Nenie with Flute for 9 Women’s Voices, Flute, and Chamber Ensemble (1961); Prayer of Stones for Narrator, 2 Small Choruses, 3 Gongs, and Tam-tam (1965); Love for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (1967); Complaints for 2 Choruses, Trumpet, Percussion, and Tape ad libitum (1969); II Canto degli Augei for Soprano and Orch. (1978); The Legend, oratorio (1981); Agnus Dei for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (1982–83); Messaggio della povertà for Soprano, Baritone, Children’s Chorus, Chorus, and Orch. (1988); Holanesque Reminiscences for Mezzo-soprano, 2 Reciters, Clarinet, Trombone, and Piano (1995); Cantus de dilectione filiarum Dei for 5 Sopranos, Baritone, and 3 Trombones (1998).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire