Kvapil, Jaroslav

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Kvapil, Jaroslav

Kvapil, Jaroslav, significant Czech composer; b. Frystâk, April 21, 1892; d. Brno, Feb. 18, 1958. He studied with Nesvera in Olmiitz (1902–06), Janacek at the Brno Organ School (1906–09), and Reger at the Leipzig Cons. (1911–13). He was in the Austrian army during World War I, then was conductor of the Brno Beseda (1919–47). He then taught at the Janacek Academy of Music there (1947–57). Kvapil’s works show the double influence of Janacek’s national and rhapsodic style and Reger’s strong polyphonic idiom.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Pohadka maje (A Romance in May; 1940-43; Prague, May 12, 1950; rev., Brno, 1955). ORCH.: Thema con variazioni e fuga (1912); 4 syms.: No. 1 (1913–14), No. 2 (1921), No. 3 (1936–37), and No. 4, Vitzna (Victory; 1943); 2 violin concertos (1927-28; 1952); Z tëzkych dob (From Anxious Times), symphonic variations (1939); Slavonic (Jubilee) Overture (1944); Burlesque for Flute and Orch. (1945); Svitani (Daybreak), symphonic poem (1948—49); Oboe Concerto (1951); Piano Concerto (1954).chamber: 3 violin sonatas (1910, 1914, 1931); Piano Trio (1912); Cello Sonata (1913); 6 string quartets (1914, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1949, 1951); Piano Quintet (1914–15); Brass Quintet (1925); Variations for Trumpet and Piano (1929); Suite for Trombone and Piano (1930); Intimate Pictures for Violin and Piano (1934); Wind Quintet (1935); Violin Sonatina (1941); Fantasy for Cello and Piano (1942); Nonet (1944); Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1948); Duo for Violin and Viola (1949); Suite for Viola and Piano (1955). keyboard: Piano:3 sonatas (1912, 1925, 1946); Variations (1914); Fantasy in the Form of Variations (1952); 10 Pieces (1957). Organ: Fantasy (1935). vocal: 2 cantatas: A Song on Time That Is Passing (1924) and Small Italian Cantata (1950); Lvi srdce (The Lion’s Heart), oratorio (1928-31; Brno, Dec. 7, 1931); song cycles.