Pololáník, Zdeněk

Pololáník, Zdeněk , Czech composer; b. Brno, Oct. 25, 1935. Following training with Vladimír Malacka and František Suchý, he was a student of Josef Černocky (organ) at the Cons. (graduated, 1957) and of Vilém Petrželka and Theodor Schafer (composition) at the Janáček Academy of Music (graduated, 1961) in Brno. Thereafter, he devoted himself fully to composing. In his music, Pololáník reveals an assured handling of form, structure, color, and unusual instrumental combinations.

Works

DRAMATIC: Melodrama :Malá mytologická cvičení (Small Mythological Exercises; 1991). Ballet : Mechanismus (Mechanism; 1964); Popelka (Cinderella; 1966); Pierot (About; 1976; orch. suite, 1977); Sněhová královna (Snow Queen; 1978); Paní mezi stíny (Lady Among Shadows; 1984). Also much incidental music and numerous radio, television, and film scores. ORCH .: Sinfonietta (1958); Toccata for Double Bass and Ensemble (1959); Divertimento for 4 Horns and Strings (1960); 5 syms.: No. 1 (1961), No. 2 for 11 Winds (1962), No. 3 for Percussion and Organ (1962), No. 4 for Strings (1963), and No. 5 (1969); Concentus resonabilis for 19 Soloists and Tape (1963); Piano Concerto (1966); Concerto grosso I for Clarinet or Flute, Guitar, Harpsichord, and Strings (1966) and Il for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Strings (1988); Suite from the oratorio Sheer hash sheereem (1975); Musica giocosa for Violin and Chamber Ensemble (1980); Concertino for Piano and Strings (1985). CHAMBER : Variations for Organ and Piano (1956); Suite for Violin and Piano (1957); String Quartet (1958); Scherzo contrario for Xylophone or Guitar, Bass Clarinet or Clarinet, and Violin (1961); Musica spingenta I for Double Bass and Wind Quintet (1961), Il for String Quartet and Harpsichord (1962), and III for Bass Clarinet and 13 Percussion (1962); Dodici preludii for 2 Pianos and Organ (1963); Tre scherzi for Wind Quintet (1969); Musica concisa for Flute, Bass Clarinet, Harpsichord, Piano, and Percussion (1963); Horn Sonata (1965); Oratio, nonet for Key, Plucked, and Percussion Instruments (1968); Musica trascurata for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1970); Ballad for Cello and Piano (1992); Christmas Triptych for Bugle and 4 Trombones (1993). KEYBOARD: Piano : Piano Preludes (1957); 7 Preludes (1960); Seguidilla (1983). Organ : Sonata bravura (1959); Sonata laetitiae (1962); Allegro affanato (1963); Esultatio e pianto (1972); Burlesca (1982); Pastorale (1986); Preludio festivo (1992). VOCAL : Nabuchodonosor for Chorus, 3 Trumpets, and 4 Kettledrums (1960); Zpěv mrtvých dětí (Cantus mortuorum liberorum) for Chorus, 3 Trumpets, and Percussion (1963); Liturgical Mass for Chorus, Brass, Harp, and Organ (1965); Tiché světlo (Silent Light) for Baritone and Organ (1965); Cantus psalmorum for Bass- baritone, Organ, Harp, and Percussion (1966); Missa brevis for Children’s Chorus and Organ (1969); Sheer hash sheereem (Song of Songs), oratorio for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1970; orch. suite, 1975); Proglas for Soprano, Horn, Harpsichord, Percussion, and Orch. (1980); Slavnosti Uta (Summer Festivities) for Chorus and 2 Pianos (1985); Vánoční poselství (Christmas Message) for Men’s Chorus, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, and Percussion (1987); Gloria! Co to nového…(Gloria! What’s New…), carols for Soprano, Tenor, Flute, Oboe, Cello, and Piano (1988–89; also for Men’s Chorus, Piano, and Synthesizer); Velikonočni cesta (Easter Way), 14 songs for Soprano, Flute, Oboe, Cello, and Piano (1990; also for High Voice and Organ, 1991); Cinderella of Nazareth, chamber oratorio for Medium Voice and Synthesizer (1991); Andělské poselství světu (The Angel’s Message to the World), Christmas pastoral for Soprano, Alto, Chorus, and Strings (1991); Te Deum for Chorus and Organ (1991); First One Must Carry the Cross, chamber oratorio for Medium Voice and Synthesizer (1992); Time of Joy and Merrymaking, cycle of 19 carols for Children’s or Women’s Chorus and Piano (1992); God is Love, chamber oratorio for Medium Voice and Synthesizer (1993); Eulogies, Psalms for Chorus (1993); Cantus laetitiae, Psalms for Children’s or Women’s Chorus (1993); Encounters for Soloists, Chorus, and Organ (1995).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire