Moyzes, Alexander

Moyzes, Alexander, Slovak composer and teacher, son of Mikuláš Moyzes; b. Kláštor pod Znievom, Sept. 4, 1906; d. Bratislava, Nov. 20, 1984. He studied conducting with Ostrcil, composition with Karel and Sin, and organ with Wiedermann at the Prague Cons. (1925–28), and then studied in Nov’s master class there (1929–30). He taught at the Bratislava Academy of Music and Drama (from 1929). He was chief music adviser to the Bratislava Radio and a prof, at the Bratislava Cons, (from 1941), then became a prof, of composition at the Bratislava Coll. of Musical Arts (1949), serving as its rector (1965–71). He won the State Prize (1956) and was made an Artist of Merit (1961) and a National Artist (1966). His music uses the melodic resources of Slovak folk songs; his Sym. No. 1 is the first national Slovak sym.

Works

dramatic opera

Udatný král’ (The Brave King; 1966; Bratislava, 1967). orch 12 syms.: No. 1 (Bratislava, Feb. 11, 1929), No. 2 (1932; rev. 1941), No. 3 (1942; orch. version of the Wind Quintet), No. 4 (1939–47), No. 5 (1948), No. 6 (1951), No. 7 (Bratislava, Oct. 23, 1955), No. 8 (1968), No. 9 (1971), No. 10 (1978), No. 11 (1978), and No. 12 (1983); Symphonic Overture (1929); Concertino (1933); JanoSik’s Rebels (1933); Nikola èuhaj, overture (1933); Down the River Vah, symphonic suite (1936; rev. 1945); Dances from the Hron Region (1950); February Overture (1952); Dances from Gemer, suite (1955); Violin Concerto (1958); Sonatina giocosa for Violin, Chamber String Orch., and Harpsichord (1962); Flute Concerto (1966); Keeper of the House, overture (1972); Bonfires on the Mountains, symphonic suite (1973); Musica istropolitana for Chamber String Orch. (1974); Music to Woman, symphonic study (1975; Bratislava, May 13, 1976); The Tale about JánoSik, rhapsodic suite (1976). chamber: 4 string quartets (1928,1969,1981,1983); Wind Quintet (1933); Poetic Suite for Violin and Piano (1948); Duetta for Violin and Piano (1960); Small Suite for Violin and Piano (1968); Sonatina for Flute and Guitar (1975). piano:Divertimento (1929); Jazz Sonata for 2 Pianos (1932); Sonata (1942). vocal:2 cantatas: Svätopluk (1935) and Znejú piesne na chotari (Songs Resound in the Meadows; 1948); 2 song cycles: Jesen (In Autumn) for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. or Piano (1960) and Morning Dew for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. or Piano (1963).

Bibliography

L. Burlas, A. M.(Bratislava, 1956).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire