Očenáš, Andrej

Očenáš, Andrej, Slovak composer; b. Selce, near Banská Bystrica, Jan. 8, 1911. He studied composition with Alexander Moyzes at the Bratislava Academy of Music, graduating in 1937, and then took a course with Novak at the Prague Cons., graduating in 1939. He worked at the Czech Radio in Bratislava (1939–50) and was music deputy to the regional director of broadcasting there (1956–62). He taught at the Bratislava Cons. (1943–73), serving as director from 1950 to 1954. His music is imbued with a Slovak ethos.

Works

dramatic:At the Brigand’s Ball (1941); Year in a Village, musical play (Bratislava, Dec. 11, 1948); Highlander’s Songs, ballet (1954–56); The Romance of the Rose, stage sym. for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1969–71). orch.:Tales of My Native Land (1943); Resurrection, symphonic trilogy (1945–53); To My Nation, symphonic cycle (1947); Cello Concerto (1952); Ruralia Slovaca for Strings, 2 Flutes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Trumpets, Horns, and Piano (1957); Piano Concerto (1959); Concertino rustico for Cimbalom, Strings, and Piano (1963); Sinfonietta (1966); The Flames of May, prelude (1972); Violin Concerto (1974); The Depiction of Life, symphonic cycle (1980); Gilding of Traditions (1984). chamber:2 string quartets {Pictures of the Soul, 1942; Étude, 1970); Concertino for Flute and Piano (1961–62); Piano Trio (1967); Frescoes for Violin and Piano (1967); Poem of the Heart for Violin (1968); Don Quixote, duo for Violin and Cello (1969). piano:Zvony (The Bells), sonata (1972); other piano pieces. vocal:Prophecies, cantata tetralogy (1949–52); About Earth and Man, sym. for Chorus and Small Orch. (1970); choral pieces; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire