Krížkovský, Pavel (baptized Karel)
Křížkovský, Pavel (baptized Karel)
Křížkovský, Pavel (baptized Karel), Bohemian choral conductor and composer; b. Kreuzendorf, Jan. 9, 1820; d. Brunn, May 8, 1885. He was a chorister at the Troppau monastery church, and was a student at the German Gymnasium there. In 1845 he joined the Old Brno Augustinian monastery, taking the name Pavel; was a theology student (1846–50), and also took holy orders (1848). He was greatly interested in Moravian folk songs and collected many of them in the field. At the same time, he began to compose choruses in the national manner. One of his earliest works, Utonulá (The Girl Who Drowned), became popular; other favorites were žaloba (The Plaint) and Odvedeného prosba (The Recruit’s Prayer). He also wrote much sacred music (Roman Catholic) for the Olmiitz Cathedral, where he was music director from 1873. Among his pupils was Janacek. A complete ed. of his works was prepared by V. Steinman and J. Racek (Prague, 1949).
Bibliography
J. Geisler, P. K. (Prague, 1886); E. Eichler, P. K. (Brunn, 1904); J. Racek, P. K.: Prameny, literatura a ikonografie (P. K.: Sources, Bibliography, and Iconography; Olomouc, 1946).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire