Jirko, Ivan
Jirko, Ivan
Jirko, Ivan, Czech composer; b. Prague, Oct. 7, 1926; d. there, Aug. 20, 1978. He studied medicine at the Univ. of Prague (graduated, 1951), and also studied composition with K. Janecek (1944–49) and Borkovec (1949–52) at the Prague Cons. He then pursued a dual career as a psychiatrist and a composer.
Works
dramatic: Opera: The Twelfth Night, after Shakespeare (1963-64; Libérée, Feb. 25, 1967); The Strange Story of Arthur Rowe, after Graham Greene’s novel Ministry of Fear (1967-68; Libérée, Oct. 25, 1969); The Millionairess, operatic divertimento (1969–71); The Strumpet (1970; Olomouc, June 23, 1974); The Way Back (1974). ORCH.: 4 piano concertos (1949, 1951, 1958, 1966); Serenade for Small Orch. (1951); Clarinet Concerto (1955); 3 syms.: No. 1 (1957), No. 2, The Year 1945 (1962; withdrawn), and No. 3 (1977); Macbeth, symphonic fantasy (1962); Elegy on the Death of a Friend (1965); Divertimento for Horn and Orch. (1965); Symphonic Variations (1966); Serenata giocosa for Chamber String Orch. (1967; also for Violin and Guitar); Sonata for 14 Winds and Kettledrums (1967); Capriccio all’antico (1971); Prague Seconds, symphonic sketches (1972); Trumpet Concerto (1972); Flute Concerto (1973); Prague Annals, symphonic triptych (1973); At the Turning Point, symphonic fantasy (1972-73; uses material from the 2nd sym.); Double Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Orch. (Charleroi, Nov. 18, 1976). CHAMBER: Wind Quintet (1947); 6 string quartets (1954, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1974); Cello Sonata (1954–55); Suite for Wind Quintet (1956); Violin Sonata (1959); Kaleidoscope for Violin and Piano (1965); Serenata in due tempi for Nonet or Oboe Quartet (1970); Guiocchi per tre for String Trio (1972); Partita for Solo Violin (1974); Piano Quintet (1977–78). Piano: 2 sonatas (1956; Elégie disharmonique, 1970); Preludio, Canzone e Toccata (1977). VOCAL: Requiem (1971); Stesi (Happiness), musical panorama for Narrator, Soprano, Baritone, and Orch. (1975–76); songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire