Blažek, Zdenek

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Blažek, Zdeněk

Blažek, Zdeněk, Czech composer and teacher; b. Zarosice, May 24, 1905; d. Prague, June 19, 1988. He was a pupil of Petrzelka at the Brno Cons. (1924–29) and of Suk at the Prague Cons. (1933–35). Returning to Brno, he was a teacher (1941–61) and director (1947–57) at the Cons., and then a teacher at the Purkynë Univ. (1961–70). His music evolved from Moravian folksongs.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Verchovina (The Highlands; 1950–51; Brno, 1956); R.U.R. (1975). ORCH.: Suite for Strings (1934); Funereal Music for Strings, 2 Harps, Gong, and Timpani (1968); Divertimento for Strings (1971); Lyric Suite (1980); Horn Concerto (1981); Mala, suite for Chamber Orch. (1983); Bassoon Concerto (1985); Chamber Sym. with Solo Baritone (1986). CHAMBER: 8 string quartets (1943, 1947, 1956, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981, 1986); String Quintet (1949); 4 Romantic Compositions for Horn and Piano (1952); 4 Compositions for Violin and Piano (1954); Horn Sonata (1964); Wind Quintet (1971); Violin Sonata (1982). VOCAL: 3 cantatas: Song of My Native Land (1938), Ode to Poverty (1958), and Home (1962); Requiem (1978); Czech Christmas Mass for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1984); choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire