Prague Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Prague Quartet was a string quartet
based in Prague
that was in existence from 1920 to 1955. Along with Ševčík Quartet
and Bohemian Quartet
, it was one of the most important chamber ensembles of the interwar years
.
. Ladislav Černý
later replaced Dezel on viola and Slovene violinist Karel Sancin took the post of Ivo Trost. Zika brothers and Černý, expatriate Czechs working in Ljubljana, founded the Zika Quartet (Zikovo kvarteto) together with Karel Sancin in 1920. The first performance took place in Ptuj
on 22 March, 1920. The Quartet relocated to Prague
in 1921 where it was called the Czechoslovak Quartet (Československé kvarteto), and from 1929, the Prague Quartet. During the 1920s, the ensemble travelled and performed extensively around Czechoslovakia and Europe. In 1927, the Prague Quartet undertook a six month-tour of South America
. During World War II
when the Germans forbade nationalistic titles, it was known as the Černý Quartet (Černé kvarteto, 1943–1944).
The quartet toured extensively and helped to promote the music of Paul Hindemith
, with whom Černý was associated. Playing with exceptional rhythmic vitality, tonal quality and technical address, the group influenced generations of Czech musicians. The quartet made several recordings including works of Antonín Dvořák
, Bedřich Smetana
, Leoš Janáček
, Johannes Brahms
and Robert Schumann
.
The quartet disbanded in 1955 and soon, with Černý's encouragement, Břetislav Novotný, the quartet's final second violinist, founded the "City of Prague Quartet" (Kvarteto města Prahy), known as the Prague String Quartet (Prager Streichquartett).
Violin II
Viola
Cello
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...
based 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...
that was in existence from 1920 to 1955. Along with Ševčík Quartet
Ševcík-Lhatsky Quartet
The Ševčík-Lhatsky String Quartet was a well-known Czech musical ensemble founded originally as the Ševčík Quartet at Warsaw in 1903, which remained in existence in the 1930s.- Personnel :The founding members of the Quartet were as follows:...
and Bohemian Quartet
Bohemian Quartet
The Bohemian Quartet were a Czech string quartet of international repute that was founded in 1891 and disbanded in 1934.- Origins :The Quartet was founded in Budapest by three pupils of Antonín Bennewitz and a pupil of Hanuš Wihan ; Bennewitz and Wihan were both teachers at the Prague Conservatory...
, it was one of the most important chamber ensembles of the interwar years
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
.
History
The beginnings of the ensemble date back to 1919, when Richard Zika (1st violin) together with his brother Ladislav Zika (cello), Mirek Dezel (viola) and Ivo Trost (2nd violin) founded the Jugoslavenski Quartet. The members of the quartet played in the orchestra of the Slovene National Theatre in LjubljanaLjubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. Ladislav Černý
Ladislav Černý
Ladislav Černý was a Czech violist and teacher.- Biography :Černý studied violin at the Prague Conservatory with Ferdinand Lachner and Jindřich Bastař, and chamber music with František Spilka...
later replaced Dezel on viola and Slovene violinist Karel Sancin took the post of Ivo Trost. Zika brothers and Černý, expatriate Czechs working in Ljubljana, founded the Zika Quartet (Zikovo kvarteto) together with Karel Sancin in 1920. The first performance took place in Ptuj
Ptuj
Ptuj is a city and one of 11 urban municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Lower Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Podravje statistical region...
on 22 March, 1920. The Quartet relocated to 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 1921 where it was called the Czechoslovak Quartet (Československé kvarteto), and from 1929, the Prague Quartet. During the 1920s, the ensemble travelled and performed extensively around Czechoslovakia and Europe. In 1927, the Prague Quartet undertook a six month-tour of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. 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...
when the Germans forbade nationalistic titles, it was known as the Černý Quartet (Černé kvarteto, 1943–1944).
The quartet toured extensively and helped to promote the music of Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
, with whom Černý was associated. Playing with exceptional rhythmic vitality, tonal quality and technical address, the group influenced generations of Czech musicians. The quartet made several recordings including works of 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...
, 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...
, Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janácek
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by...
, Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
and Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
.
The quartet disbanded in 1955 and soon, with Černý's encouragement, Břetislav Novotný, the quartet's final second violinist, founded the "City of Prague Quartet" (Kvarteto města Prahy), known as the Prague String Quartet (Prager Streichquartett).
Personnel
Violin I- Richard Zika (1920–1933)
- Willibald Schweyda (Vilibald Schwejda) (1933–1941)
- Alexandr Plocek (1941–1951)
- Josef SukJosef Suk (violinist)Josef Suk was a Czech violinist, violist, chamber musician and conductor, the grandson of Josef Suk, the composer and violinist, and great-grandson of Antonín Dvořák. In his home country he carried the title of National Artist....
(1951–1955)
Violin II
- Ivo Trost (1919)
- Karel Sancin (1920–1923)
- Herbert Berger (1923–1954)
- Břetislav Novotný (1954–1955)
Viola
- Mirek Dezel (1919)
- Ladislav ČernýLadislav ČernýLadislav Černý was a Czech violist and teacher.- Biography :Černý studied violin at the Prague Conservatory with Ferdinand Lachner and Jindřich Bastař, and chamber music with František Spilka...
(1920–1955)
Cello
- Ladislav Zika (1920–1931)
- Miloš SádloMiloš SádloMiloš Sádlo , a Czech cellist, was born in Prague, Czech Republic. Born Miloš Zátvrzský he took the name Sadlo after "Karel Pravoslav Sádlo", his teacher and mentor....
(1931–1933) - Ivan Večtomov (1933–1941)
- Josef Šimandl (1941–1951)