Theodor Schaefer
Encyclopedia
Theodor Schaefer was a Czech composer of modern classical music and musical theorist.
and conducting with František Neumann at the Brno Conservatory
and continued his music education at the Prague Conservatory
where he studied composition under Vítězslav Novák
(1926–1929). In early 1930, he taught at the Municipal Music School in Kutná Hora
. In 1934 he moved to Brno where he taught composition and music theory, first at the private music school of Václav Kaprál
(1934–1940) and later at the Brno Conservatory (1940–1959). In 1959 Schaefer became a professor of composition at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts
in Brno. For several years he also conducted the Brno Orchestral Association (Brněnské orchestrálni sdružení) and Radiojournal Ensemble. During the 1960s he served as chairman of the Union of Czechoslovak Composers and was instrumental in founding the Brno International Music Festival.
Orchestral
Concertante
Chamber music
Piano
Choral
Vocal
Biography
Schaefer studied composition with Jaroslav KvapilJaroslav Kvapil
Jaroslav Kvapil was a Czech poet, playwright, and librettist. From 1900 he was a director and Dramaturg at the National Theatre in Prague, where he introduced plays by Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen and Maxim Gorky into the repertory. Later he was a director at the Vinohrady Theatre...
and conducting with František Neumann at the Brno Conservatory
Brno Conservatory
The Brno Conservatory, also Brno Conservatoire , was established in Brno on 25 September 1919 by Moravian composer Leoš Janáček.- History :...
and continued his music education 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 :...
where he studied composition under 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...
(1926–1929). In early 1930, he taught at the Municipal Music School in Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora is a city in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic in the Central Bohemian Region.-History:The town began in 1142 with the settlement of the first Cistercian Monastery in Bohemia, Kloster Sedlitz, brought from the Imperial immediate Cistercian Waldsassen Abbey...
. In 1934 he moved to Brno where he taught composition and music theory, first at the private music school of Václav Kaprál
Václav Kaprál
Václav Kaprál was a Czech pianist and composer.Kaprál studied composition with Leoš Janáček in the Brno Organ School and with Vítězslav Novák in Prague. Later, he studied piano interpretation with Alfred Cortot in Paris .Kaprál composed about fifty opuses, mainly solo piano, vocal, and chamber...
(1934–1940) and later at the Brno Conservatory (1940–1959). In 1959 Schaefer became a professor of composition at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts
Janácek Academy of Music and Performing Arts
Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts is a university-level school in Brno in the Czech Republic.The Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts is one of two academies of music and the dramatic arts in the Czech Republic...
in Brno. For several years he also conducted the Brno Orchestral Association (Brněnské orchestrálni sdružení) and Radiojournal Ensemble. During the 1960s he served as chairman of the Union of Czechoslovak Composers and was instrumental in founding the Brno International Music Festival.
Selected works
Stage- Švanda dudák (Švanda the Bagpiper), Children's Opera (1925); libretto by F. Tomek
- Honza dobrák, Children's Opera (1923); libretto by F. Tomek
- Mauglí (Mowgli), Incidental Music to the play by Rudyard KiplingRudyard KiplingJoseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
for piano (1932) - Legenda o štěstí (Legend of Happiness), Ballet, Op. 23 (1950–1953)
Orchestral
- Tři české tance ve starém slohu (3 Czech Dances in Olden Style) (1930)
- Scherzo Piccolo, Op. 9 (1937)
- Valašská serenáda (Wallachian Serenade), Symphonic Poem, Op. 12 (1939)
- Janošík, Ballad-Overture, Op. 15 (1939)
- Legenda o štěstí (Legend of Happiness), Suite from the ballet, Op. 23b (1950–1953, 1955)
- Pekelné tance (Infernal Dances) from the ballet Legenda o štěstí, Op. 23c (1950–1953, 1958)
- Tři části (3 Sections) from the ballet Legenda o štěstí, Op. 23d (1950–1953, 1955)
- Taneční suita (Dance Suite) from the ballet Legenda o štěstí, Op. 23f (1950–1953, 1958)
- Symphony, Op. 25 (1957–1961)
- Rapsódická reportáž (Rhapsodic Report), Op. 28 (1959–1960)
Concertante
- Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 10 (1937–1943)
- Sinfonia pastorale concertante alla maniera di stile classico for flute, oboe, bassoon and chamber orchestra, Op.23a (1954); from the ballet Legenda o štěstí
- Diathema for viola and orchestra, Op. 24 (1955–1956)
- Barbar a růže (The Barbarian and the Rose) for piano and orchestra, Op. 27 (1958–1959)
- Glosae instrumentale for 2 pianos and chamber ensemble, Op. 32 (1965); unfinished
Chamber music
- String Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 2 (1929)
- Suita pro hoboj a klavír (Suite for oboe and piano) (1929–1930)
- Violin Concerto for violin and piano, Op. 4 (1933)
- Wind Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, Op. 5 (1934–1935)
- String Quartet No. 2, Op. 16 (1940–1941)
- Slavnostní fanfáry (Brněnská konzervatoř) (Festive Fanfares for Brno ConservatoryBrno ConservatoryThe Brno Conservatory, also Brno Conservatoire , was established in Brno on 25 September 1919 by Moravian composer Leoš Janáček.- History :...
) (1943) - String Quartet No. 3, Op. 21 (1944–1945)
- Divertimento mesto, Octet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola and cello, Op. 22 (1946–1947)
- Slavnostní fanfáry pro Univerzitu Palackého v Olomouci (Festive Fanfares for Palacký University of Olomouc) (1948)
- Cigánovy housle (The Gyspy's Violin) for violin and piano, Op. 29 (1960–1961)
- Fanfáry pro Janáčkovu akademii múzických umění v Brně (Fanfares for the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing ArtsJanácek Academy of Music and Performing ArtsJanáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts is a university-level school in Brno in the Czech Republic.The Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts is one of two academies of music and the dramatic arts in the Czech Republic...
in Brno) for 4 trumpets, 3 trombones and tuba, Op. 30 (1961)
Piano
- Sonatina, Op. 6 (1935–1936)
- Romantické skladby (Romantic Pieces); 6 Pieces, Op. 7 (1936)
- Klavírní etudy (Etudes for Piano), Suite in 5 movements, Op. 8 (1936–1937)
- Klavírní etudy (Etudes for Piano), 2 Dances, Op. 11 (1937–1938)
- Index, 16 Pieces in 2 books, Op. 13 (1938)
- Elegie za Zdeničku (Elegy for Zdenička), Suite in 5 movements, Op. 20 (1944)
Choral
- Anemonky (The AnemoneAnemoneAnemone , is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate zones...
s) for male chorus; words by Jaroslav VrchlickýJaroslav VrchlickýJaroslav Vrchlický was one of the greatest Czech lyrical poets. He was born Emil Frida, Vrchlický being a pseudonym.He also wrote epic poetry, plays, prose and literary essays and translated widely from various languages, introducing e.g. Dante, Goethe, Shelley, Baudelaire, Poe, and Whitman to... - Poštovní schránka (Mail Box) for mixed chorus, Op. 3 (1932); words by Jiří WolkerJirí WolkerJiří Wolker was a Czech poet, journalist and playwright. He was one of the founding members of CPC - Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1921.- Life :...
- Tři mužské sbory (3 Male Choruses), Op. 14 (1939)
- Vlast Libušina (LibušeLibušeLibuše, Libussa or, historically Lubossa, is a legendary ancestor of the Přemyslid dynasty and the Czech people as whole. Libuše was the wisest of the three sisters and prophesied the foundation of Prague from her castle Libušín...
's Homeland), 3 female choruses a cappella, Op. 17 (1940); words by Alois Vojkůvka - Zimní kantáta (Winter Cantata) for soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra, Op. 19 (1943–1945); words by Kamil BednářKamil BednárKamil Bednář was a Czech poet, translator, prose writer, dramatist and publishing house editor.-Life:After 1931, he studied law, and then 6 years of philosophy in Charles University...
- Dva madrigaly (2 Madrigals) for female chorus a cappella, Op. 26 (1957)
- Světské requiem (Secular Requiem), Op. 33 (1964); unfinished
Vocal
- Jaro přichází (Spring Is Coming), 3 Songs for female voice and piano, Op. 1 (1925); words by M. Kaulfusová, Josef Václav Sládek and A. Nováková
- Podivný svět (Strange World), Cycle of 5 songs for tenor and piano (1925-1926); words by A. Kraus and M. Kaulfusová
- Ukolébavka (Lullaby) for voice and piano (1931); words by L. Beková
- Julie aneb Snář (Julie, or The Dream), Melodrama in 3 acts for soloists, chamber orchestra, jazz instruments and piano (1933–1934); words by Georges NeveuxGeorges NeveuxGeorges Neveux was a French dramatist and poet.Neveux's first notable work was the play Juliette ou la clé des songes , written in 1927 and produced in 1930...
in Czech translation by Jindřich Hořejší - Milostné balady (Love Ballads), 5 Songs for female voice and piano, Op. 18 (1943)
- Bithematicon, 4 Songs for baritone and piano, Op. 31 (1967)
- Rašení for voice and piano; words by František Serafínský Procházka
- Hvězdám for voice and piano; words by Jaroslav VrchlickýJaroslav VrchlickýJaroslav Vrchlický was one of the greatest Czech lyrical poets. He was born Emil Frida, Vrchlický being a pseudonym.He also wrote epic poetry, plays, prose and literary essays and translated widely from various languages, introducing e.g. Dante, Goethe, Shelley, Baudelaire, Poe, and Whitman to...
- Sežloutla ta lípa for voice and piano; words by Jaroslav Vrchlický
- Balada horská for voice and piano; words 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:...
- Balada dětská for voice and piano; words by Jan Neruda
- Čerevený květ for voice and piano; words by Petr BezručPetr BezrucPetr Bezruč was the pseudonym of Vladimír Vašek , a Czech poet and short story writer who was associated with the region of Austrian Silesia.Bezruč was born in Opava and died in Olomouc.- Works :Poetry...
- Má matka hrála for voice and piano; words by Karel HlaváčekKarel HlavácekKarel Hlaváček was a Czech Symbolist and Decadent poet and artist.He published his poetic works and art criticisms in the journal Moderní revue . He was also active as an artist, creating works that suggest his anxieties about sex, such as Exile...
Students
- Pavel Blatný
- Ctirad Kohoutek
- Ivan Petrželka
- Alois Piňos
- Zdeněk Pololaník
- Zdeněk Zouhar