Pauer, Jíri

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Pauer, Jíři

Pauer, Jíři , Czech composer and arts administrator; b. Libušin, near Kladno, Feb. 22, 1919. He studied composition with Otakar Šin, then with Alois Hába at the Prague Cons. (1943–46) and with Borkovec at the Prague Academy of Musical Arts (1946–50). He occupied various administrative posts with the Ministry of Education and Culture and with the Czech Radio. He was artistic director of the Opera of the National Theater in Prague (1953–55; 1965–67; 1979–89), and also taught at the Prague Academy. He was director of the Czech Phil, from 1958 to 1980. His music followed the pragmatic precepts of socialist realism in its modern application, broadly lyrical and tensely dramatic by turns.

Works

dramatic opera:Žvanivy Slimejš (Prattling Snail; 1949–50; Prague, April 5, 1958); Zuzana Vojírová (1954–57; Prague, May 11, 1958); Červenâ Karkulka (Little Red Riding Hood; 1959; Olomouc, 1960); Manzelské kontrapunkty (Marital Counterpoints; 1961; 3 operatic satirical sketches, Ostrava, 1962; 2nd version as 5 satires, Libérée, 1967); Zdravy nemocny (The Imaginary Invalid), after Molière (1966–69; Prague, May 22,1970). monodrama:Labutípísen (The Swan Song; 1973). ballet:Ferda Mravenec (Ferdy the Ant; 1975). orch.:Comedy Suite (1949); Bassoon Concerto (1949); Youth Suite (1951); Scherzo (1951); Children’s Suite for Chamber Orch. (1953); Rhapsody (1953); Oboe Concerto (1954); Horn Concerto (1958); Sym. (1963); Commemoration, symphonic picture (1969); Canto festivo (1970–71); Trumpet Concerto (1972); Initials (1974); Aurora, overture for Large Wind Orch. (1976; also for Orch., 1978); Sym. for Strings (1978); Concerto for Marimba and Strings (1984); Suite (1987). chamber:Partita for Harp (1947); Divertimento for 3 Clarinets (1949); Capriccio for Flute or Oboe or Clarinet or Bassoon and Piano (1952); Violin Sonatina (1953); Cello Sonata (1954); 4 string quartets (1960, 1969, 1970, 1976); Divertimento for Nonet (1961); Wind Quintet (1961); Piano Trio (1963); Concertant Music for 13 Winds (1971); Intrada for 3 Pianos, 3 Trumpets, and 3 Trombones (1975); Characters for Brass Quintet (1977–78); Episodes for String Quartet (1980); Trio for 3 Horns (1986); Violin Sonata (1987); Nonet No. 2 (1988–89); piano pieces. vocal: Cantatas; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire