Iša Krejcí
Encyclopedia
Iša Krejčí was a Czech
Neoclassicist
composer
, conductor
and dramaturg.
He was born in Prague
. He studied history and musicology at Charles University and concurrently piano playing with Albín Šíma and composition at the Prague Conservatory
with Karel Boleslav Jirák
and Vítězslav Novák
and conducting with Václav Talich
. He worked for the Slovak National Theatre
in Bratislava
in 1928–32, Czech Radio in 1934–45, Olomouc
Opera in 1945–58, and Prague National Theatre
since 1958. He wrote the opera
s Antigone ("Antigona", after Sophocles
, 1934) and An Uproar in Efes ("Pozdvižení v Efesu", after Shakespeare, 1943) as well as four famous symphonies. He died in Prague.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
Neoclassicist
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
composer
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...
, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and dramaturg.
He was born in 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...
. He studied history and musicology at Charles University and concurrently piano playing with Albín Šíma and composition 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 :...
with Karel Boleslav Jirák
Karel Boleslav Jirák
Karel Boleslav Jirák was a Czechoslovak composer and conductor....
and 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...
and conducting with Václav Talich
Václav Talich
Václav Talich was a Czech conductor, violinist and pedagogue.- Life :Born in Kroměříž, Moravia, he started his musical career in a student orchestra in Klatovy. From 1897 to 1903 he studied at the conservatory in Prague with Otakar Ševčík...
. He worked for the Slovak National Theatre
Slovak National Theatre
The Slovak National Theatre denotes:* the oldest Slovak professional theatre consisting of 3 ensembles ,* a Neo-Renaissance theatre building in the Old Town of Bratislava, Slovakia, which formerly housed two of the theatre's ensembles , and* the theatre's large modern theatre building in...
in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
in 1928–32, Czech Radio in 1934–45, Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
Opera in 1945–58, and Prague 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...
since 1958. He wrote the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s Antigone ("Antigona", after Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
, 1934) and An Uproar in Efes ("Pozdvižení v Efesu", after Shakespeare, 1943) as well as four famous symphonies. He died in Prague.
Stage works
- Small Ballet, to the theme of Pantomime by Vítězslav NezvalVítezslav NezvalVítězslav Nezval was one of the most prolific avant-garde Czech writers in the first half of the twentieth century and a co-founder of the Surrealist movement in Czechoslovakia....
, also as a composition for chamber orchestra (1926) - An Uproar in Efes (Pozdvižení v Efesu). Opera bouffeOpéra bouffeOpéra bouffe is a genre of late 19th-century French operetta, closely associated with Jacques Offenbach, who produced many of them at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens that gave its name to the form....
to the librettoLibrettoA libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Josef Bachtík based on Shakespeare's Comedy of ErrorsComedy Of ErrorsComedy Of Errors was a Glasgow-based progressive rock band formed in January 1984. Their first recording was a demo called "Ever be the Prize", and was recorded at a studio in Blanefield in 1985, and followed by a mini album in 1986....
(1939–43) - Antigone (Antigona). A cantata for the stage after the tragedy by Sophocles (1933, rewritten 1959–62)
- Darkness (Temno). Scenes based on Alois JirásekAlois JirásekAlois Jirásek was a Czech writer, author of historical novels and plays. Jirásek was a secondary-school teacher until his retirement in 1909. He wrote a series of historical novels imbued with faith in his nation and in progress toward freedom and justice...
's novel of the same title (1944, instrumentation 1951–52)
Orchestral music
- Symphonietta - divertimento (1929)
- Suite from a comic opera (1933)
- Suite for Orchestra (1939–40)
- 20 Variations on the Composer s Own Theme in the Style of a Folk Song (1946–47)
- 14 Variantions on the Song (Good - Night Called)
- There Is None Other Like My Deceased Spouse (1951–52)
- Serenade for Orchestra (1948–50)
- Symphony No 1 in D (1954–55)
- Symphony No 2 in C sharp (1956–57)
- Symphony No 3 in D (1961–63)
- Symphony No 4 (1966)
- Minor Suite for Strings
- Vivat Rossini. A concertante overture
Concertante music
- Concertino for Piano with an Accompamment of Wind Instruments (1935)
- Concertino for Violin with an Accompaniment of Wind Instruments (1936)
- Cocencertino for Violoncello and Orchestra (1939–40)
Chamber music
- Divertimento (Cassation) for Flute, Clarinet,Trumpet and Bassoon (1925)
- Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano (1929–30)
- Trio - Divertimento for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon (1935)
- Trio for Clarinet, Double Bass and Piano (1936)
- Little Funeral Music for Alto, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass and Piano to Texts of the Psalms and František Halas' Poem "Old Women" (1933, rewritten 1936)
- Divertimento for Nonet (1937)
- Tre scherzini for pianoforte (1953), according to the original arrangement of the composition for flute and piano from the year 1945
- String Quartet No 2 in D-minor (1953)
- String Quartet No 3 "In My Father's Memory" (1960)
- Sonatina concertante for violoncello and pianoforte (1961)
- Wind Quintet (1964)
- Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano with a song for a female voice to the text of a Psalm
- Four Encore Pieces for Violin and Piano (1966)
- String Quartet No 4 (1966)
- String Quartet No 5 (1967)
Songs
- Five Songs to Texts by Vítězslav NezvalVítezslav NezvalVítězslav Nezval was one of the most prolific avant-garde Czech writers in the first half of the twentieth century and a co-founder of the Surrealist movement in Czechoslovakia....
(1926–27) - Six Songs to Texts by Jan NerudaJan NerudaJan Nepomuk Neruda was a Czech journalist, writer and poet, one of the most prominent representatives of Czech Realism and a member of "the May school".-Early life:...
for Baritone and Piano or Orchestra (1931) - Imitations of Czech Songs for Tenor and Wind Quintet to Words by František Ladislav Čelakovský (1936)
- Motives from Antiquity, for a lower male voice and orchestra or piano (1936, arrangement and instrumentation, 1947)
- Five Songs to Texts by Jan Amos Komenský for Singing and Piano (1938)
- Four Songs to Texts by Jan Neruda for a middle male voice (1939–40)
Choral compositions
- The Song of the Multitudes. A fugue for a mixed choir and large orchestra to a text by Josef HoraJosef HoraJosef Hora was a Czech poet.-Early life:Josef Hora was born in Dobříň, Litoměřice District, Bohemia in a farmstead, which now houses the Museum of Josef Hora. His father soon sold the house in the village and the family moved to Prague...
(1925, instrumentation 1948) - Four Madrigals to Words by Karel Hynek MáchaKarel Hynek MáchaKarel Hynek Mácha was a Czech romantic poet.- Biography :Mácha grew up in Prague, the son of a foreman at a mill. He learned Latin and German in school...
for a smaller mixed choir, tenor solo and piano (1936) - From the Region of Bagpipers (Z dudáckého kraje). A bouquet of songs after melodies of songs for soprano, tenor, baritone and large orchestra, collected by Karel WeisKarel WeisKarel Weis was a Czech composer and folksong collector. He was born in Prague.-Biography:...
(1939) - Sacred Carols Sung During Christmas-time (Koledy posvátné v čas vánoční), for a children's or mixed choir with orchestra and organ (1939)
- Military Songs from the Záhorácko Region (Vojenské písničky ze Záhorácka), for a male choir unisono, tenor and soprano solo with orchestra (1950)
- Four Male Choirs in the Traditional Style to Words by Czech Poets (1966–67)