Podešva, Jaromír
Podešva, Jaromír
Podešva, Jaromír , Czech composer and teacher; b. Brno, March 8, 1927. He learned to play the piano, violin, and viola and to compose in childhood. After attending the Brno Cons. (1946–47), he pursued training in composition with Kvapil at the Janáček Academy of Music in Brno (1947–51; postgraduate studies, 1951–53). In 1960–61 he traveled abroad, studying with Copland at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood and with Dutilleux in Paris. His travels are recounted in the book Současná hudba na Západě (Current Music in the West; Prague, 1963). From 1969 to 1987 he taught at the Ostrava Cons. He publ. the treatise Možnosti kadence v dvanáctitónovém poli (The Possibilities of Cadences in the Twelve-tone System; Prague, 1974). As a composer, Podešva reacted positively to his travels abroad and composed works in a style embracing both tonality and dodecaphony.
Works
DRAMATIC : Bambini di Praga, buffa-ballet-pantomime (1968). ORCH .: 10 syms.: No. 1 (1950–51), No. 2 for Flute and Strings (1961), No. 3, Culmination—The Pearl Deep Down (1966), No. 4, Soláň Music, for Flute, Harpsichord, and Small String Orch. (1967), No. 5, 3 Fragments of the Quinguennium, for Baritone and Orch. (1967), No. 6 (1970), No. 7, In memoriam J.P. jun. (1951–1972) (1982–83), No. 8, Ostrava (1986), No. 9 (1989), and No. 10, Initium ultimum (1993); Kounic Halls (1952); Flute Concerto (1965); Concerto for String Quartet and Orch. (1971); Piano Concerto (1973); Beskydy Suite (1974); Violin Concerto (1974–75); Trumpet Concerto (1975); Homage to Léos Janáěk (1977); Sinfonietta festiva for Chamber String Orch. (1983); Viola Concerto (1986); 5 Pieces for Chamber String Orch. (1994). CHAMBER : 6 string quartets (1950, 1951, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1976); 2 nonets (1954–55; 1972); Violin Sonata (1958); Cello Sonatina (1960); Wind Quintet (1961); 5 Pieces for Violin and Piano (1967); Suite for Viola and Piano, In Search of a Smile (1969); Concertino for 2 Violins and Piano (1972); Quartet for Violin, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1977); Sonata for Solo Viola, Circle (1982); Clarinet Quintet (1984); Clarinet Sonatina (1984); Fantasia quasi una sonata for Violin and Piano (1987); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1990); Movement for Viola and Piano (1992); piano pieces. VOCAL : Choral works; songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire