Karel Komzák I
Encyclopedia
Karel Komzák I was a Bohemian composer, organist, bandmaster and conductor. He was the father of Karel Komzák II
and the grandfather of Karel Komzák III.
, now in the České Budějovice District
of the Czech Republic
. A memorial plaque now commemorates his birthplace. He learned the violin from his father, a blacksmith but also a popular folk singer and acclaimed violinist, and studied with Moritz Mildner and Antonín Bennewitz
at the Prague Conservatory
. He studied at the School for Organists and became a village teacher. Later he was an organist at a lunatic asylum, the National Institute for the Mentally Ill, where he worked for 19 years. He was also a bandmaster of the Rifle Corps in Prague and a theatre conductor in Linz
. He moved around frequently, staying longest at Vienna
and Baden
.
He formed a well-respected orchestra for opera performances at the Czech Provisional Theatre
. In 1862 it was permanently attached to the Theatre. Among its players were Antonín Dvořák
(viola) and the composer's own son Karel Komzák II
(violin). He was succeeded in this post by Bedřich Smetana
.
In 1865 Komzák was appointed bandmaster in the 11th Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army in Innsbruck
. He served in this post for the next 15 years in a variety of locations.
In 1876 he declined an offer to conduct at the World Exhibition in Chicago, followed by a concert tour of Boston, Washington and New York.
In 1880 he moved to the 74th Infantry Regiment. Up until this time, he had warmed the hearts of his listeners by regularly including Czech folk songs in his concert programs, but from 1880 this music was forbidden. He retired in 1881, but only a year later was persuaded to join the newly formed 88th Infantry Regiment in Prague as a bandmaster. He retired in April 1888 to his birthplace, where he died in 1893, aged 69.
He wrote more than 200 popular marches, waltzes, mazurkas, polkas, galops, quadrilles and other dances.
Karel Komzák II
Karel Komzák II was a greatly renowned Bohemian-born Viennese composer famous for his dances and marches.Karel Komzák II was born in Prague in 1850. After training under his father, Karel Komzák I, he studied violin, musical theory, and conducting at the Prague Conservatory between 1861 and 1867...
and the grandfather of Karel Komzák III.
Biography
Karel Komzák was born in 1823 in Netěchovice, near Týn nad VltavouTýn nad Vltavou
Týn nad Vltavou is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has approximately 8,200 inhabitants.- Main sights :* main square* St. Jacob's church* town hall* town museum, expositon of moldavite stones* ruins of Tyn's castle...
, now in the České Budějovice District
Ceské Budejovice District
České Budějovice District is a district within South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is České Budějovice.- Complete list of municipalities :Adamov -Bečice -Borek -Borovany -Borovnice -Boršov nad Vltavou -Bošilec -...
of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. A memorial plaque now commemorates his birthplace. He learned the violin from his father, a blacksmith but also a popular folk singer and acclaimed violinist, and studied with Moritz Mildner and Antonín Bennewitz
Antonín Bennewitz
Antonín Bennewitz was a Czech violinist, conductor and teacher. He was in a line of violinists that extended back to Giovanni Battista Viotti, and forward to Jan Kubelík and Wolfgang Schneiderhan....
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 :...
. He studied at the School for Organists and became a village teacher. Later he was an organist at a lunatic asylum, the National Institute for the Mentally Ill, where he worked for 19 years. He was also a bandmaster of the Rifle Corps in Prague and a theatre conductor in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
. He moved around frequently, staying longest at 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...
and Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
.
He formed a well-respected orchestra for opera performances at the Czech Provisional Theatre
Provisional Theatre (Prague)
The Prague Provisional Theatre was erected in 1862 as a temporary home for Czech drama and opera until a permanent National Theatre could be built. It opened on 18 November 1862 and functioned for 20 years, during which time over 5,000 performances were presented. Between 1866 and 1876 the theatre...
. In 1862 it was permanently attached to the Theatre. Among its players were 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...
(viola) and the composer's own son Karel Komzák II
Karel Komzák II
Karel Komzák II was a greatly renowned Bohemian-born Viennese composer famous for his dances and marches.Karel Komzák II was born in Prague in 1850. After training under his father, Karel Komzák I, he studied violin, musical theory, and conducting at the Prague Conservatory between 1861 and 1867...
(violin). He was succeeded in this post by Bedřich Smetana
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
.
In 1865 Komzák was appointed bandmaster in the 11th Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
. He served in this post for the next 15 years in a variety of locations.
In 1876 he declined an offer to conduct at the World Exhibition in Chicago, followed by a concert tour of Boston, Washington and New York.
In 1880 he moved to the 74th Infantry Regiment. Up until this time, he had warmed the hearts of his listeners by regularly including Czech folk songs in his concert programs, but from 1880 this music was forbidden. He retired in 1881, but only a year later was persuaded to join the newly formed 88th Infantry Regiment in Prague as a bandmaster. He retired in April 1888 to his birthplace, where he died in 1893, aged 69.
He wrote more than 200 popular marches, waltzes, mazurkas, polkas, galops, quadrilles and other dances.