Alois Hába
Encyclopedia
Alois Hába was a Czech composer
, musical theorist and teacher. He is primarily known for his microtonal compositions, especially using the quarter tone
scale, though he used others such as sixth-tones and twelfth-tones.
, Moravia
, into a musical family; his brother Karel Hába was also a composer, and their father was a folk musician. He began to compose during the studies in Kroměříž
(1908–1912). He was a student of composer Vítězslav Novák
in 1914–1915 at the Prague Conservatory
, graduated with Sonata for violin and piano. Hába studied also at the Imperial Academy of Music and the Performing Arts in Vienna
(1918–1920) (among his teachers was Richard Stöhr
), and in Berlin
1920–1922). In 1920, as a student of Franz Schreker
, he composed his first quarter-tone work - String Quartet No. 2. He was supported by Josef Suk
and with his help was able to found a microtonal department of teaching and research at the Prague Conservatory in 1924. In 1923–1948 he worked first as an instructor, later (since 1936) as professor at the Prague Conservatory. During World War II
, Hába was endangered by Nazis, because he tried to help his Jewish pupils. After the war he lived in peace in the Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia. He died in Prague in 1973.
He also commissioned quarter and sixth tone instruments such as trumpets, clarinets and pianos.
His best known work is the opera Mother
, which received its premiere at the Gärtnerplatztheater
in Munich
, Germany
in May 1931; curiously, the cast included the Swiss tenor Max Meili
, an early music specialist and primarily a recitalist rather than an opera singer.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, musical theorist and teacher. He is primarily known for his microtonal compositions, especially using the quarter tone
Quarter tone
A quarter tone , is a pitch halfway between the usual notes of a chromatic scale, an interval about half as wide as a semitone, which is half a whole tone....
scale, though he used others such as sixth-tones and twelfth-tones.
Life
Hába was born at VizoviceVizovice
Vizovice is a town with about 4,598 inhabitants in the Zlín Region, Czech Republic.The first recorded reference to the community was in 1261. Vizovice received town privileges in 1498. The annual Masters of Rock Heavy metal festival takes place in Vizovice....
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, into a musical family; his brother Karel Hába was also a composer, and their father was a folk musician. He began to compose during the studies in Kroměříž
Kromeríž
Kroměříž is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. The town's main landmark is the Baroque Kroměříž Bishop's Palace, where some scenes from Amadeus and Immortal Beloved were filmed...
(1908–1912). He was a student of composer Vítězslav Novák
Vítezslav Novák
Vítězslav Novák was one of the most well-respected Czech composers and pedagogues, almost singlehandedly founding a mid-century Czech school of composition...
in 1914–1915 at the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
, graduated with Sonata for violin and piano. Hába studied also at the Imperial Academy of Music and the Performing Arts in 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...
(1918–1920) (among his teachers was Richard Stöhr
Richard Stöhr
Richard Stöhr was an Austrian composer, music author and teacher.Born in Vienna, he studied composition with Robert Fuchs at the Vienna Conservatory....
), and in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
1920–1922). In 1920, as a student of Franz Schreker
Franz Schreker
Franz Schreker was an Austrian composer, conductor, teacher and administrator. Primarily a composer of operas, his style is characterized by aesthetic plurality , timbral experimentation, strategies of extended tonality and...
, he composed his first quarter-tone work - String Quartet No. 2. He was supported by Josef Suk
Josef Suk (composer)
Josef Suk was a Czech composer and violinist.- Life :Suk was born in Křečovice. He studied at Prague Conservatory from 1885 to 1892, where he was a pupil of Antonín Dvořák and Antonín Bennewitz. In 1898, he married Dvořák's eldest daughter, Otilie Dvořáková , affectionately known as Otilka...
and with his help was able to found a microtonal department of teaching and research at the Prague Conservatory in 1924. In 1923–1948 he worked first as an instructor, later (since 1936) as professor at the Prague Conservatory. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Hába was endangered by Nazis, because he tried to help his Jewish pupils. After the war he lived in peace in the Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia. He died in Prague in 1973.
He also commissioned quarter and sixth tone instruments such as trumpets, clarinets and pianos.
His best known work is the opera Mother
Mother (opera)
Mother, op. 35, is a quarter-tone opera in ten scenes by Czech composer Alois Hába. It was completed in 1929 on the composer's own libretto, its plot is drawn from author's native Valašsko...
, which received its premiere at the Gärtnerplatztheater
Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz
Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz is an opera house and opera company in Munich. Designed by the architect Michael Reiffenstuel, it opened on 5 November 1865 as the city's second opera house after the National Theatre....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in May 1931; curiously, the cast included the Swiss tenor Max Meili
Max Meili
Max Meili, a Swiss tenor, was born 11 December 1899 in Winterthur and died 17 March 1970 in Zürich, Switzerland. He first trained as a painter then turned to singing, leading to lessons with Felix von Kraus....
, an early music specialist and primarily a recitalist rather than an opera singer.