Karel, Rudolf

Karel, Rudolf, Czech composer; b. Pilsen, Nov. 9, 1880; d. in the concentration camp in Terezin, March 6, 1945. He was the last student of Dvořáak, with whom he studied in Prague for 1 year during his term at the Prague Cons. (1901–04). In 1914 he went to Russia as a teacher. After the Revolution, he made his way to Irkutsk, Siberia; during the Russian civil war, he became a member of the Czechoslovak Legion and conducted an orch. organized by the legionnaires. He returned to Prague in 1920; from 1923 to 1941, taught at the Prague Cons. As a member of the Czech resistance in World War II, he was arrested by the Nazis in March 1943; was transferred to Terezin in Feb. 1945, and died there of dysentery shortly before liberation. His music reflects Romantic concepts. He had a predilection for programmatic writing; the national element is manifested by his treatment of old modal progressions; his instrumental writing is rich in sonority and the polyphonic structure is equally strong.

Works

dramatic:Ilseino srdce (Ilsea’s Heart), lyric comedy (1906-09; Prague, Oct. 11, 1924); Smrt Kmotřička (Godmother Death), musical fairy tale (1928-33; Brno, Feb. 3, 1933); Tri vlasy děda Vševěda (3 Hairs of the Wise Old Man), musical fairy tale (1944-45; arranged by Z. Vostřak; Prague, Oct. 28, 1948); incidental music. orch.: Suite (1903–04); Comedy Overture (1904–05); Fantasy (1905); The Ideals (1906–09); 2 syms. {Renaissance, 1910-11; Spring, 1935-38); 4 Slavonic Dance Moods (1912); The Demon (1918–20); Capriccio for Violin and Orch. (1924); Revolutionary Overture (1938–1). chamber: 3 string quartets (1902-03; 1907-13; 1935-36); Piano Trio (1903–04); Violin Sonata (1912); Nonet for Wind Quintet and String Quartet (1945; completed by F Hertl). Piano: 5 Pieces (1902); Notturno (1906–07); Sonata (1910); Thema con variazioni (1910); 3 Waltzes (1913); Burlesques (1913–14). vocal:Vzkříení (Resurrection), sym. for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1923-27; Prague, April 9, 1928); Sladká balada dĘtská (Sweet Ballad for a Child) for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1928–30); Cernoch (A Negro) for Baritone and Orch. or Piano (1934); choruses; songs.

Bibliography

O. ëourek, R. K. (Prague, 1947).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire