Weis Karel

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Weis Karel

Weis, Karel, Czech writer on music, ethnomusicologist, and composer; b. Prague, Feb. 13, 1862; d. there, April 4,1944. He studied violin at the Prague Cons., and also organ with Skuherskÿ and composition with Fibich at the Organ School in Prague. He subsequently filled various posts as organist and conductor in Prague and other cities. He devoted much of his time to collecting Bohemian folk songs, and publ. them in 15 vols. (1928-41).

Works

dramatic: Opera: Viola, after Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Prague, Jan. 17, 1892; rev. version as BHzenci[The Twins], Prague, Feb. 28, 1917); Der polnische Jude (Prague, March 3, 1901); Die Dorfmusikanten (Prague, Jan. 1, 1905); Der Revisor, after Gogol (1907); Utok na mlÿn, after Zola’s L’Attaque du moulin (Prague, March 29, 1912); Lesetínsky kováf (The Blacksmith of Lesetin; Prague, June 6, 1920); Bojarská nevësta (The Boyar’s Bride; Prague, Feb. 18, 1943). OTHER: Helios a Selene, symphonic poem; Sym.; choral pieces; songs; piano works.

Bibliography

L. Firkušný, K. W.(Prague, 1949).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire