Hurnik, IIja
Hurnik, IIja
Hurnik, IIja, Czech pianist and composer; b. Poruba, near Svinov, Nov. 25, 1922. He moved to Prague in 1938 and had piano lessons with Kurz (1939–5). He studied composition with ridky and was the last pupil of Novak (1941–44); later studied piano with Stepânovâ at the Cons. (1945–18) before completing his training at the Academy of Music (1948–52). He taught at the Prague Cons, and at the Bratislava Academy of Music.
Works
dramatic: Opera: Dama a lupili (The Lady and the Gangster), after the film The Ladykillers (1966); Mudrci a bloudi (The Wise and the Foolish; 1968); Diogenes (1974); Oldfich a Bozenka (1985); Stazena hrdla (Tightened Throat), mini-opera (1997). Ballet: Ondras (1950). ORCH.: Flute Concerto (1953); Serenade for Strings (1954); Concerto for Winds and Percussion (1956); Concerto for Oboe, Strings, and Piano (1959); Musikanti (The Musicians) for 20 Instruments (1962); Chamber Music for Strings (1962); Kyklopes (Prague, June 4, 1965); Concerto for Piano and Small Orch. (1972); Veci, divertimento for Chamber Orch. (1977); Overture to a Comedy (1985); Concertino for Organ and Chamber Ensemble (1990); Concerto for Viola and Strings (1994); Symfonietta (1996).CHAMBER: 2 wind quintets (1944, 1985); 2 string quartets (1949; 2nd, with Baritone, to Old Testament texts, 1961); Viola Sonata (1952); Die vier Jahreszeiten for 12 Solo Instruments (1952); Sonata da camera for Flute, Oboe, Cello, and Harpsichord (1953); Piano Quintet (1953); Ballet for 9 Instruments (1954); Esercizi for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1958); Moments musicaux for 11 Winds (1962); Gloria di flauti for 2 Flutes (1973); Concerto capricioso for Organ, 2 Violins, and Cello (1998).keyboard: piano: Preludes (1943); Sonatina (1952); Étude (1972); Variations on a Theme of Pergolesi for Piano, 4-Hands (1983; also for Chamber Ensemble); Innocenza for Piano, 4-Hands (1992).organ: 3 sonatas (1956).VOCAL: Maryka, cantata (1948; rev. 1955); Noe (Noah), oratorio (1959); Ezop (Aesop), cantata (1964); Sulamit, song cycle for Woman’s Voice and Orch., after the Old Testament (1963); Ozëvna, chamber cantata (1981); Madrigal for Voices (1982); Ancient Portrait for Children’s Chorus and Orch. (1988); Missa Vinea Crucis for Children’s Chorus and Orch. or Organ (1991)
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire