Adolf Mišek
Encyclopedia
Adolf Mišek was a Czech double bassist
and composer of the late romantic era.
Born in Modletín (then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), he left for Vienna
at the age of 15 to study with Franz Simandl
at the Vienna Conservatory. At the age of 23 Mišek joined the orchestra of the state opera in Vienna - a post he held concurrently with the professorship at the conservatory after the departure of Simandl in 1912 - until he left for Prague
in 1918 to join the National Theatre
as principal bassist and soloist. He held this position until his death in 1955.
Mišek's musical compositions are a common repertory item for contemporary bassists and are typical of the late romantic, early 20th century style. Some pieces that remain include his three sonatas for double bass and piano
(in A major, E minor, and F major, respectively), the lyrical Legend, and the virtuosic
Concert Polonaise. All of Mišek's pieces are highly idiomatic and show that he was a highly accomplished performer and a talented (if not brilliant) composer.
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
and composer of the late romantic era.
Born in Modletín (then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), he left for Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
at the age of 15 to study with Franz Simandl
Franz Simandl
Franz Simandl was a double-bassist and pedagogue most remembered for his book New Method for the Double Bass, known as the Simandl book, which is to this day used as a standard study of double bass technique and hand positions.His approach uses the first, second, and fourth fingers of the left...
at the Vienna Conservatory. At the age of 23 Mišek joined the orchestra of the state opera in Vienna - a post he held concurrently with the professorship at the conservatory after the departure of Simandl in 1912 - until he left for Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in 1918 to join the National Theatre
National Theatre (Prague)
The National Theatre in Prague is known as the Alma Mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and maintained by the most distinguished...
as principal bassist and soloist. He held this position until his death in 1955.
Mišek's musical compositions are a common repertory item for contemporary bassists and are typical of the late romantic, early 20th century style. Some pieces that remain include his three sonatas for double bass and piano
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
(in A major, E minor, and F major, respectively), the lyrical Legend, and the virtuosic
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
Concert Polonaise. All of Mišek's pieces are highly idiomatic and show that he was a highly accomplished performer and a talented (if not brilliant) composer.