Kowalski, Július

Kowalski, Július, Slovak composer; b. Ostrava, Feb. 24, 1912. He went to Prague and studied at the Cons. (1929–33) with Karel (composition) and Dëdeček (conducting), and then continued his training at its Master School (1933–34) with Dëdeček and Talich (conducting) and Suk (composition). In 1935-36 he pursued studies in quarter- tone and sixth-tone music with A. Hâba. He served as director of the music schools in Skalica (1954–56) and Pezinok (1956–57), and then of the art school in Bratislava (1957–59).

Works

dramatic:Opera: The Spinning-Wheel Tale, children’s opera (1954); The Festival of Chinese Lanterns (1961). ORCH.: Russian Rhapsody (1934); 7 syms. (1954, 1957, 1958, 1971, 1973, 1980, 1980); Elegiac Poem for Cello and Orch. (1959); Impressions from Eisenach (1967); Symfonietta Concertante for Wind Quintet and Orch. (1975); Concerto for String Quartet and Orch. (1976); Concerto for Violin and Chamber Orch. (1978); Elegy for Cello and Orch. (1978); Epitaph (1983); Frescos (1986); 4 Inventions (1988). CHAMBER: 7 string quartets (1932, 1953, 1965, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1982); 2 trios for 2 Violins and Piano (1967, 1968); Grimaces for Wind Quartet (1971); 3 trios for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1969, 1975, 1988); Quartet for 3 Cellos and Piano (1979); Trio for Recorder, Violin, and Cello (1982); Piano Quintet (1985); Trio for 2 Oboes and Piano (1985); Piano Quartet (1990); Suite for Violin and Piano (1993); Miniatures for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1995). VOCAL: Stabat mater for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1945); Antithesis, song cycle for High Voice and Piano (1957); 2 Songs for High Voice and String Quartet (1989); 2 Songs for Middle Voice and Piano (1992).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire