Vlastimil Lejsek
Encyclopedia
Vlastimil Lejsek was a Czech composer
and pianist
.
and the Academies of Music in both Prague and Brno with Frantisek Schafer, Jan Erml and Frantisek Maxian. During his studies he received awards at many competitions, such as the International Smetana Competition (Prague
) and Franz Liszt Competition (Budapest
).
With his wife, Vera Lejskova, he established a famous piano duo, collaborating with composers such as Milhaud
, Britten, Lutoslawski and Shostakovich, and recording for the first time Dvořák
's 4-hand works and many more. As a solo pianist, he premiered many works of his colleagues, as well as of his own.
The main body of his musical output consists music for piano duo (like Brazilian Dances, Dances of Masters, Inventions, Moravian Ballades) and piano solo (Preludes, Sonatella, Pianists and Horses, The Moon Suite).
Besides being a composer and a performing and recording pianist, Lejsek also served at the music faculties of the Conservatory and Janáček Academy of Music in Brno. He is a member of Moravian Composer's Club (founded by Janáček) and also founder of the International Schubert Competition for Piano duos in Jesenik (Czech republic), one of the foremost music events of his country.
His wife is, besides a pianist, a writer, journalist and critic working for both press and radio. Together they are an important and inspirating couple in Czech musical life. Their life and work is depicted in the book "Interviews without piano" by Jan Trojan.
Orchestral
Concertante
Chamber music
Piano solo
Piano 4 hands
Piano 6 hands
2 Pianos
2 Pianos 8 hands
Vocal
Choral
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...
and pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
Biography
Lejsek was the son of the Moravian choirmaster Frantisek Kvetoslav Lejsek. He studied at the Brno ConservatoryBrno Conservatory
The Brno Conservatory, also Brno Conservatoire , was established in Brno on 25 September 1919 by Moravian composer Leoš Janáček.- History :...
and the Academies of Music in both Prague and Brno with Frantisek Schafer, Jan Erml and Frantisek Maxian. During his studies he received awards at many competitions, such as the International Smetana Competition (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...
) and Franz Liszt Competition (Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
).
With his wife, Vera Lejskova, he established a famous piano duo, collaborating with composers such as Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, Britten, Lutoslawski and Shostakovich, and recording for the first time 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...
's 4-hand works and many more. As a solo pianist, he premiered many works of his colleagues, as well as of his own.
The main body of his musical output consists music for piano duo (like Brazilian Dances, Dances of Masters, Inventions, Moravian Ballades) and piano solo (Preludes, Sonatella, Pianists and Horses, The Moon Suite).
Besides being a composer and a performing and recording pianist, Lejsek also served at the music faculties of the Conservatory and Janáček Academy of Music in Brno. He is a member of Moravian Composer's Club (founded by Janáček) and also founder of the International Schubert Competition for Piano duos in Jesenik (Czech republic), one of the foremost music events of his country.
His wife is, besides a pianist, a writer, journalist and critic working for both press and radio. Together they are an important and inspirating couple in Czech musical life. Their life and work is depicted in the book "Interviews without piano" by Jan Trojan.
Selected works
Opera- Noc s Kobr a Štejnem, Rejvízská opera (RejvízRejvízRejvíz is the highest situated Silesian village in the Czech Republic , and an administrative part of Zlaté Hory...
Opera) for soloists, chorus, piano 4 hands and percussion (1976)
Orchestral
- Stříbrný pochod (Silver March) for wind orchestra (1977); original for piano 4 hands
- Lozíbecký pochod (March from Lozíbek) (1981, 1986); original for piano 4 hands
Concertante
- Brazilské tance (Brazilian Dances) for piano and orchestra (1961, 1990); original for 2 pianos
- Preludia (Preludes) for piano and orchestra (1975, 1985); original for piano solo
Chamber music
- Dvě skladby (2 Pieces) for viola and piano (1959)
- Allegro giocoso for flute and piano (1961)
- Dvě malá dua (2 Little Duos) for violin and piano (1967)
- Na Rejvízu (In Rejviz) for recorder, timpani and piano (1975)
- Duo con brio for clarinet and piano (1979)
- Sonatella for trumpet and piano (1983)
- Preludium, taneček a chorál (Prelude, Little Dance and Choral) for 2 trombones and piano (1983)
Piano solo
- Pět epigramů (5 Epigrams) (1965)
- Ochozská polka (Polka from Ochoz) (1961, 1966); original for 2 pianos
- Sonatina in C (1967)
- Preludia (Preludes) (1975); also for piano and orchestra
- Sešit for Věrku (Book for Věra) (1976)
- Měsíční svita (Moon Suite) (1976)
- Pianisté a koně (Pianists and Horses) (1977)
- Sonatella (1978)
- Espressivo (1983)
- Roční doby (Seasons) (1983)
- Kovbojská svita (Cowboy Suite) (1990)
- 21 reminiscencí klavírního vysloužilce (21 Reminiscences of a Piano Veteran) (1990)
- Písnička ze sklepa (Cellar Songs) (1996)
Piano 4 hands
- Duettina (Duettinos) for piano 4 hands (1966)
- Sonatina for piano 4 hands (1966)
- Duettinka (Little Duettinos) for piano 4 hands (1975)
- Suita z opery Noc s Kobr a Štejnem (Suite from the Opera "Noc s Kobr a Štejnem") (1976)
- Tanec, Serenáda pro Dr. Trojana a Variace (Dance, Serenade for Dr. Trojana and Variation) (1976)
- Quattutor ludibria for piano 4 hands and pipe (1977)
- Stříbrný pochod (Silver March) for piano 4 hands (1977); also orchestrated
- Sonata divertimenta for piano 4 hands (1979)
- Třikrát for dva (Thrice for Two) (2002)
- Dueta (Duets) (1981)
- Pět krátkých tanců (Five Short Dances) (1981)
- Čtverlístek (Quatrefoil) (1983); also for piano 6 hands
- Sonatinka (Little Sonatina) (1983)
- Lozíbecký pochod (March from Lozíbek) (1981); also for orchestra
- Balady z Moravy (Ballads from Moravia) (1991)
Piano 6 hands
- Čtverlístek (Quatrefoil) (1983); original for piano 4 hands
2 Pianos
- Brazilské tance (Brazilian Dances) (1961); orchestrated in 1990
- Ochozská polka (Polka from Ochoz) (1961); also for piano solo
- Invence (Invention) (1962)
- Malá suita (Little Suite) (1962)
- Sonata (1966)
- Toccata in memoriam František Schäfer (1966)
- Orchestys eni orchato for 2 pianos and tape (1966)
- Tanečky mistrů (Masters' Little Dances) (1976)
- Divertimento (1977)
- Svita pro Lipník (Suite for Lipník) (1991)
2 Pianos 8 hands
- Suita domestica for 2 pianos 8 hands (1977)
- Tři věci (3 Movements) for 2 pianos 8 hands (1979)
Vocal
- Dua pro manžele Škrabalovy (Duos for Mrs. Škrabalová) for soprano and bassoon (1967)
- Čtyň slovácké písničky (4 Slovacko Songs) for voice and piano (1977)
- Dvě povídačky (Two Tales) for voice and piano (1978); words by Věra Lejsková
- Na hudební nástroje, hádej, kdo nám zahraje (Guess Who Will Play the Musical Instruments) for voice and piano (1981); words by Věra Lejsková
- Dvé písní z Moravy (2 Songs from Moravia) for voice and piano (1983); words by the composer
Choral
- Co všechno musí udělat jaro for children's chorus and piano (1966); words by František Halas
- Řikadla naučná (Educational Nursery Rhymes) for children's chorus and piano (1975); words by Věra Lejsková