Komzäk, Karel
Komzäk, Karel
Komzäk, Karel, Bohemian conductor and composer; b. Netëchovice, near Ceské Budëjovice, Nov. 4, 1823; d. there, March 19, 1893. After taking a teachertraining course at St. Henry’s Coll. in Prague (1841–42), he began his career as a teacher and organist. In 1854 he founded his own orch. in Prague, which also served as the orch. of the Provisional Theater (1862–65); in 1865 it became the theater’s official orch. In later years, Komzâk pursued a career as a military bandmaster. He composed about 300 works, mainly marches and dances, some of which utilized Czech folk songs. His son, also named Karel Komzâk (b. Prague, Nov. 8, 1850; d. Baden bei Wien, April 23, 1905), was a bandmaster and composer. He studied with his father and then at the Prague Cons. (1861–67), and subsequently was active as a bandmaster. He composed many dances in collaboration with his father, often utilizing Czech folk songs. Among his other works were an operetta, Edelweis, and some songs.
Bibliography
M. Schönherr and E. Brixel, K. K.: Vater, Sohn, Enkel: Ein Beitrag zur Rezeptionsgeschichte der österreichischen Popularm-usik (Vienna, 1989).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire