Dvořáček, Jiří

Dvořáček, Jiří, Czech composer and pedagogue; b. Vamberk, June 8, 1928. He studied organ at the Prague Cons. (1943–17) and composition with Řídký and Dobiáš at the Prague Academy of Music (1949–53), where he subsequently taught (from 1953), later serving as a prof, of composition and chairman of the composition dept. (1979–90). In 1983 he was made an Artist of Merit by the Czech government. From 1987 to 1989 he was president of the Union of Czech Composers and Concert Artists. His works represent a median course of Central European modernism.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera : Ostrov Afrodity (Aphrodite’s Island; 1967; Dresden, Feb. 13,1971). ORCH.: 2 syms. (1953,1985); Symphonic Suite (1958); Overture (1958); Concertante Suite (1962); Ex post, symphonic movement for Piano and Orch. (1963); Quattro episodi, symfonietta (1971); Žiji a zpívám (I Am Living and Singing), cantata for Soloists, Chorus, Reciter, Children’s Chorus, and Orch. (1978); Giubilo (1983); Violin Concerto (1989). CHAMBER : Sonata Capricciosa for Violin and Piano (1956); Invention for Trombone and Piano or Small Orch. (1961); Meditations for Clarinet and Percussion (1964); Music for Harp (1970); Due per duo, 2 rondos for Horn and Piano (1970); Brass Quintet (1973); Trumpet Sonata (1977); Organ Sonata (1979); Accordion Sonata (1979); Tema con Variazioni per trombone e pianoforte (1980); Prague Transformations for Wind Quintet (1981); Partita for Oboe and Bassoon (1986); Partita piccola for Violin, Guitar, and Harmonica (1987); 3 Movements for String Quartet (1990); Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire