Schaefer, Theodor
Schaefer, Theodor
Schaefer, Theodor, Czech composer and teacher; b. Telč, Jan. 23, 1904; d. Brno, March 19, 1969. He studied with Kvapil at the Brno Cons. (1922–26) and with Novak at the Prague Cons. (1926–29). Upon graduation, he taught at the Palacký Univ. at Olomouc, the Brno Cons. (1948–59), and at the Janáček Academy of Music in Brno (1959–69). He was an advocate of a so-called diathematic principle of constructing themes using fragments of preceding thematic units.
Works
DRAMATIC: Maugli, children’s opera (1932); Legenda o Šteští (Legend of Happiness), ballet (1952). ORCH .: 2 unnumbered syms. (1926; 1955–61); Violin Concerto (1932–33); Wallachian Serenade (1936); Piano Concerto (1937–43); JánoSik, balladic overture (1939); Diathema for Viola and Orch. (1955–56); The Barbarian and the Rose for Piano and Orch. (1957–58); Diathema (1957–58); Rhapsodic Reportage (1960). chamber: 3 string quartets (1929; 1941; 1944–45); Wind Quintet (1935–36); Divertimento mesto for Wind Quintet and String Trio (1946); CMnovy housle (Gypsy Violin), 4 movements for Violin and Piano (1960). Piano: Etudes (1936–37); Theme with Variations (1936). vocal: Milostné balady (Love Ballads) for Voice and Piano, commemorating the destruction of Lidice by the Nazis (1943); Winter Cantata for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1943–45); Bithematikon for Baritone and Piano (1967).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire