Kaprál, Václav

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Kaprál, Václav

Kaprál, Václav, Czech composer, father of Vitězslava Kaprálová b. Určice u Prostějova, March 26, 1889; d. Brno, April 6, 1947. He studied with Janáček at the Brno Organ School (1908–10), Novak in Prague (1919–20), and Cortot in Paris (1923–24). He established his own music school in Brno in 1911, and also lectured at the Univ. of Brno (1927–36). He then taught at the Brno Cons, from 1936 until his 3-year internment in a concentration camp in Svatobořice during World War II. In 1946 he became a prof, at the Janáčxek Academy of Music in Brno. In his works, he shows a fine eclectic talent, enhanced by refulgent lyricism.

Works

chamber: 2 string quartets (1925; 1927, with Baritone); Ballad for Cello and Piano (1946). Pian: 4 sonatas (1912, 1921, 1924, 1939); Miniatury (Miniatures; 1922); Con duolo for Piano, Left-hand (1926); 3 sonatinas (1930, 1936, 1943); Fantasie (1934). vocal:Proni (For Her) for Voice and Piano Quartet (1927); Pizen podzimu (Song of Autumn) for Voice and String quartet (1929); Uspavansky (Lullabies) for Voice and Chamber Orch. (1932; Barcelona, April 20, 1936).

Bibliography

E. štaudová, V. K., 1889-1947: Personalni bibliografie (Brno, 1989).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire