Feld, Jindřich

Feld, Jindřich, Czech composer; b. Prague, Feb. 19, 1925. He studied violin and viola with his father, a prof, of violin at the Prague Cons., and then took courses in composition there with Hlobil (1945–8) and with Řtidky at the Prague Academy of Music (1948–52). He also studied musicology, aesthetics, and philosophy at the Charles Univ. in Prague (Ph.D., 1952). His 4th string quartet was awarded the State Prize in 1968. In 1968–69 he was a visiting prof, at the Univ. of Adelaide. During this time, he composed his Dramatic Fantasy: The Days of August, an orch. score in protest to the Soviet invasion of his homeland. From 1972 to 1986 he was a prof, of composition at the Prague Cons. He subsequently was head of the music dept. of the Czech Radio from 1990. After composing works reflective of the Czech tradition, he developed a distinctive voice utilizing a variety of modern compositional methods.

Works

DRAMATIC Postdckd pohddka (The Postman’s Tale), children’s opera (1956). ORCH.: 2 divertimentos: No. 1 for Strings (1950) and No. 2 for Wind Band (1997); Furiant (1950); Concerto for Orchestra (1951; rewritten 1957); Comedy Overture (1953); Flute Concerto (1954); Rhapsody for Violin and Wind Orch. (1956); Concerto for Chamber Orch. (1957); Sonata for Flute and Strings (1957–65); Cello Concerto (1958); Bassoon Concerto (1959); May 1945, dramatic overture (1960); Suite for Chamber Strings (1961); Thuringian Overture (1961); 3 Frescoes (1963); Concert Music for Oboe, Bassoon, and Orch. (1964); Concert Piece for Horn and Orch. (1966); Serenata giocosa for Chamber Orch. (1966); 3 syms.: No. 1 (1967), No. 2 (1983), and No. 3, Fin de siecle (1994–98); Dramatic Fantasy: The Days of August (1968–69); Oboe Concerto (1970); Chamber Sinfonietta for Strings (1971); Concert Suite for Bass Clarinet, Piano, Strings, and Percussion (1972); Piano Concerto (1973); Trombone Concerto (1975); Accordion Concerto (1975); Partita piccola for Accordion Orch. (1976); Violin Concerto (1977); Evocations for Accordion Orch. and Percussion (1978); Serenade for Chamber Strings (1979); Concert Fantasy for Flute, Strings, and Percussion (1980); Saxophone Concerto (1980); Harp Concerto (1982); H.C. Andersen’s Fairy Tales for Accordion Orch. (1984); Fresco for Symphonic Wind Band (1985); Concertino for Flute, Piano, and Orch. (1991); Elegy and Burlesque for Cello and Orch. (1992); Joyful Overture for Symphonic Band (1996); Concertino for Cello and String Chamber Orch. (1999). CHAMBER : 6 string quartets (1949, 1952, 1962, 1965, 1979, 1993); 2 wind quintets (1949, 1968); Suite for Clarinet and Piano (1949); Sonatina for 2 Violins (1953); 4 Pieces for Flute (1954); Elegy and Burlesque for Cello and Piano (1954–55); Viola Sonata (1955); Rhapsody for Violin and Piano (1956); Flute Sonata (1957); Chamber Suite for Nonet (1960); Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1961); Duo for Flute and Bassoon or Bass Clarinet (1962); Trio for Flute, Violin, and Cello (1963); Caprices for Wind Quartet and Guitar (1964); Suite for Accordion (1965); Bassoon Sonatina (1969); Brass Quintet (1970); Clarinet Sonatina (1970); Trio for Violin or Flute, Cello, and Piano (1972); Cello Sonata (1972); 5 Stylistic Studies for String Quartet, Flute, and Harp (1974); Guitar Sonata (1974); Suite Rhapsodica for Clarinet (1976); Toccata and Passacaglia for Harp (1976); Partita canonica for 3 Trumpets and 3 Trombones (1977); Epigrams for Piccolo Flute, Tuba, and Harp (1977); Serenade for 4 Horns (1978); Music for 2 Accordions (1979); Cassation for 9 Flutes (1980); Concert Duo for 2 Flutes (1981); Saxophone Quartet (1981); Elegy for Soprano Saxophone or Oboe and Piano (1981); Oboe or Soprano Saxophone Sonata (1982); Introduction and Allegro for Accordion and Percussion (1983); Concert Music for Viola and Piano (1983; also for Quinton and Piano, 1988); Quartettino for Recorder Quartet (1985); Violin Sonata (1985); Sonatina for Flute and Harp (1986); Concerto da camera for 2 String Quartets (1987); Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1987); Duo for Violin and Cello or Viola (1989); Horn Sonatina (1989); Alto Saxophone Sonata (1989–90); Partita concertante for Cello (1990); Introduzione, toccata efuga for Flute (1991); Suite Rapsodica for Alto Saxophone (1992); Concerto for Saxophone, 2 Pianos, and 2 Percussionists (1992); Cassation for 8 Horns (1993); Trio giocoso for Clarinet or Alto Saxophone, Bassoon, and Piano (1994); American Sonatina for Flute and Piano (1995); Quintetto capriccioso for Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Harp (1995); Divertimento for Flute and Guitar (1996); Musica capricciosa for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1998); Quintet for Saxophone or Clarinet and String Quartet (1999). KEYBOARD : Piano : Prelude and Toccata (1958–59); Sonata (1972). Organ : Rhapsody (1963). VOCAL: Nonsense Rhymes for Women’s Chorus and Small Instrumental Ensemble (1973); Laus Cantus for Soprano and String Quartet (1985); COSMAE CHRONICA BOEMORUM, oratorio-cantata for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1988); choruses; songs. OTHER: Small instruction pieces, etc.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire