Kardos, Dezider

Kardos, Dezider, Slovak composer; b. Nadlice, Dec. 23, 1914; d. Bratislava, March 18, 1991. He studied composition with Moyzes at the Bratislava Academy of Music (graduated, 1937) and with Novak at the Prague Cons. (1937–39). He worked for the Czech Radio in Presov (1939–45) and Kosice (1945–51), and then became a teacher at the Bratislava Academy of Music (1963), being made a prof, in 1968. The thematic sources of his musical inspiration are found in eastern Slovak folklore.

Works

orch.: 7 syms.: No. 1 (1942), No. 2, Of Native Land (1955), No. 3 (1961), No. 4, Piccola (1962), No. 5 (1965), No. 6 (1974–75), and No. 7, Ballade vom Traum, for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1983–84); 3 overtures: My Home (1946), East Slovak (1950), and Res philharmonica (1970); Concerto for Orchestra (1957); Heroic Ballad for Strings (1959); Concerto for Strings (1963); Piano Concerto (1969); Partita for 12 Strings (1972); Slovakophonia, variations on a folk theme (1975–76); Violin Concerto (1980); Symphonietta (1988). chamber: 4 string quartets (1935, 1966, 1978, 1985); Wind Quintet (1938); 3 Compositions for Violin and Piano (1966). keyboard:Piano: 2 suites (both 1937); Bagatelles (1948). Organ: Preludium quasi una fantasia (1940); Elevazioni (1967). vocal:Peace Cantata (1951); Songs about Life, cycle of 4 microdramas for Soprano, Tenor, and Orch. (1973–74); choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire