Karel Bendl
Encyclopedia
Karel or Karl Bendl was a Czech composer.
He studied at the organ school, where he met and befriended Antonín Dvořák
one year before graduating with honors in 1858. By then he had already composed a number of small choral works. In 1861 his Poletuje holubice won a prize and at once became a favorite with the local choral societies. In 1864 Bendl went to Brussels
, where for a short time he held the post of second conductor of the opera. After visiting Amsterdam
and Paris
. In Paris, he became influenced by the stage works of Charles Gounod
and Ambrose Thomas and especially by Giacomo Meyerbeer
.
By 1865 he was back in Prague where he was appointed conductor of the choral society known as Hlakoe, and he held the post until 1879, when Baron Dervies engaged his services for his private band. Bendl's first opera Lejla was successfully produced in 1868. It was followed by Břetislav a Jitka (1870), Starý ženich, a comic opera (1883), Karel Škréta (1883), Dítě Tábora, a prize opera (1892), and Máti Míla (1891). Other operas by Bendl are Indická princezna, Černohorci, a prize opera, and the two operas Čarovný květ and Gina. His ballad Švanda dudák acquired much popularity; he published a mass
in D minor
for male voices and another mass for a mixed choir; two songs to "Ave Maria"; a violin sonata
and a string quartet
Op.119 in F Major; and a quantity of songs and choruses, many of which have come to be regarded as national possessions of Bohemia.
Asteroid
734 Benda
is named in his honour.
He studied at the organ school, where he met and befriended Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
one year before graduating with honors in 1858. By then he had already composed a number of small choral works. In 1861 his Poletuje holubice won a prize and at once became a favorite with the local choral societies. In 1864 Bendl went to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, where for a short time he held the post of second conductor of the opera. After visiting Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In Paris, he became influenced by the stage works of Charles Gounod
Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
and Ambrose Thomas and especially by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer was a noted German opera composer, and the first great exponent of "grand opera." At his peak in the 1830s and 1840s, he was the most famous and successful composer of opera in Europe, yet he is rarely performed today.-Early years:He was born to a Jewish family in Tasdorf , near...
.
By 1865 he was back in Prague where he was appointed conductor of the choral society known as Hlakoe, and he held the post until 1879, when Baron Dervies engaged his services for his private band. Bendl's first opera Lejla was successfully produced in 1868. It was followed by Břetislav a Jitka (1870), Starý ženich, a comic opera (1883), Karel Škréta (1883), Dítě Tábora, a prize opera (1892), and Máti Míla (1891). Other operas by Bendl are Indická princezna, Černohorci, a prize opera, and the two operas Čarovný květ and Gina. His ballad Švanda dudák acquired much popularity; he published a mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
in D minor
D minor
D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. In the harmonic minor, the C is raised to C. Its key signature has one flat ....
for male voices and another mass for a mixed choir; two songs to "Ave Maria"; a violin sonata
Violin sonata
A violin sonata is a musical composition for violin, which is nearly always accompanied by a piano or other keyboard instrument, or by figured bass in the Baroque period.-A:*Ella Adayevskaya**Sonata Greca for Violin or Clarinet and Piano...
and a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
Op.119 in F Major; and a quantity of songs and choruses, many of which have come to be regarded as national possessions of Bohemia.
Asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
734 Benda
734 Benda
-External links:*...
is named in his honour.
External links
- Karel Bendl String Quartet in F, Op.119
- Twelve Gipsy songs. 1st and 2nd series. With pianoforte accompaniment (From the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
- Quartet, strings, op. 119, F major (From the Sibley Music Library Digital Score Collection)
- Detailed biography