Pospíšil, Juraj

Pospíšil, Juraj , Slovak composer and teacher; b. Olomouc, Jan. 14, 1931. He received training in piano, organ, and theory at the Olomouc School of Music (1949–50). After studying composition with Petrželka at the Janáček Academy of Music and Drama in Brno (1949–50). After studying composition with Moyzes and Cikker at the Bratislava Academy of Music and Drama (1952–55). From 1955 to 1991 he lectured on theory and composition at the Bratislava Cons. In 1988 he received an award from the Union of Slovak Composers. Pospíšil developed a compositional style which owed much to the Second Viennese School while paying homage to Slovak tradition.

Works

DRAMATIC : Inter arma, cycle of 3 operas (1969–70); Manon Lescaut, scenic drama (1993). ORCH.: The Mountains and the People, symphonic poem (1954; Bratislava, Dec. 20, 1955); 6 syms.: No. 1 (1958; Bratislava, June 4, 1961), No. 2, Nebula in Andromeda (1963; Bratislava, June 3, 1964), No. 3 for Chamber Ensemble and Kettledrums (1967; Bratislava, Feb. 27, 1968), No. 4, Warsaw, for Narrator, Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1978), No. 5 (1986; Bratislava, Feb. 27, 1988), and No. 6 (1996); Reflections (1958); Song About a Man, symphonic variations (1961); Trombone Concerto (1962; Bratislava, Jan. 20, 1964); Violin Concerto (1968); Clarinet Concerto (1972; also for Clarinet and Organ, 1977); 3 symphonic frescoes: No. 1 (1972; Kosice, Oct. 6, 1976), No. 2 (1976; Bratislava, Feb. 24, 1985), and No. 3 (1981; Bratislava, Feb. 10, 1985); Concerto eroico for Horn and Orch. (1973); Through the Land of Childhood (1983); Concerto for Soprano and Orch. (1984; Bratislava, Feb. 14, 1986); Dramatic Overture (1984); Dulcimer Concerto (1989); Sonata for Alto Trombone and Strings (1991); Tuba Concerto (1994; also for Tuba and Brass Band, 1996). CHAMBER : In Reveries for Strings (1953); Sonata for Strings (1961; Berlin, Dec. 14, 1963); 3 Inventions for Wind Trio (1961); Music for Brass (1962); Glosses for Wind Quintet (1964); Double Bass Sonata (1964); Contradictions for Clarinet and String Quartet (1964); Music for 12 Strings (1965; Bratislava, Feb. 27, 1968); 2 sonatas for Solo Violin (1965, 1976); 4 string quartets (1970, 1979, 1985, 1990); Flute Quartet (1971); Chamber Sinfonietta for Strings and Brass (1974); 2 trios for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1977, 1987); Sonata for English Horn and String Quartet (1983); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Accordion (1985); Melancholic Suite for Oboe, English Horn, and Bassoon (1986); Trio for Flute, Guitar, and Cello (1986); Wind Sextet (1988); Grand duo (quasi una sonata) for Bass Clarinet and Piano (1989); Trio for Trombones (1990); 2 brass quintets (1991, 1996); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL : Margita and Besná for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1955); To Bratislava for Baritone and Orch. or Piano (1973); Dazzlement for Narrator and Chamber Ensemble (1973); November Triptych for Chamber Chorus, Wind Quintet, and Piano (1977); The Lord’s Prayer of the Hussites, sacred cantata for Mezzo-soprano, Bass, Chorus, and Orch. (1990); Autumn Bottling for Bass and String Quartet (1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire