Ilja Hurník


Ilja Hurník was a Czech composer and essayist.
WWW hurnik.cz/clanky/ilja-hur...

Biography

Hurnik was born in Poruba, now part of Ostrava. He entered the Prague Conservatory, then went on to the Prague Academy of Arts, where he studied with Ilona Štěpánová-Kurzová, daughter of Vilém Kurz.
His 1952 Sonata da camera, for flute, oboe, cello and harpsichord, has been recorded on Cedille Records.
A 2008 Supraphon CD contains two of Hurník's instrumental compositions: the colorful ballet music Ondráš, written in 1951, and his Four Seasons Chamber Suite, written in 1952. Both are performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra led by Karel Ančerl.
He is father of Lukáš Hurník, brother-in-law of Petr Eben and uncle of Marek Eben. Ilja Hurník died in Prague on 7 September 2013 at the age of 90.

Selected works

;StageOndráš, Ballet, Silesian Folk Ballad Dáma a lupiči, Comic Opera in 4 acts ; libretto by the composer loosely based on the film The LadykillersMudrci a bloudi, Opera in 3 Scenes on Themes of Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern Times ; libretto by the composerDiogenes, Apocrypha ; libretto by the composerFaux pas de quatre, Ballet-grotesque Rybáři v síti, Comic Opera ; libretto by the composer based on original short storiesOldřich a Boženka, Opera ; libretto by the composer
;OrchestralTance z baletu Ondráš, Suite Komorní hudba for string orchestra Kyklopes Serenade for string orchestra Věci, Divertimento for small orchestra Klicperovská předehra Suita z baletu Faux pas de quatre Symfonieta Con brio Symphony in C Leporelo for small orchestra Faun a Apollo ; orchestration of the Sextet for brass and organ
;ConcertantePartita for flute, string orchestra and piano
  • Concerto for flute and chamber orchestra
  • Concerto for oboe, string orchestra and harpsichord
  • Concerto for wind instruments, piano and timpani Sinfonia facile for piano and string orchestra
  • Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra Nový clavecin for piano and string orchestra ; original for piano solo
  • Concertino for piano and string orchestra
  • Concertino for 2 violins and string orchestra
  • Concert for viola and string orchestra
;Chamber musicCaprices for solo violin, Op. 4 Partita in A for flute and harpsichord ; also orchestrated; dedicated to Czech flautist Václav Žilka
  • Sonata for viola and piano, Op. 26 Čtvero ročních dob, Suite for wind quintet or 12 instruments Sonata da camera for flute, oboe, cello and harpsichord or piano Esercizi for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon Malý faun, 5 Pièces en forme de suite for flute and piano Moments musicaux, Suite for 11 wind instruments
  • Concerto for oboe and piano Vánočńí koledy for violin and piano Gloria di flauti for 2 flutes
  • Concertino for violin and piano
  • Concertino for 2 violins and piano ; also orchestratedObrázky, Very Easy Pieces for flute and piano
  • Sonatina for double bass and piano
  • Wind Quintet No. 2 Tance for harp
  • Sonatina for oboe and piano
  • Suite for alto saxophone and piano Trio in C for oboe, clarinet and bassoon Tance pro andílky for violin, flute and piano
  • Sonatina for violin and harp Concerto capriccio for organ, 2 violin and cello Variace na Beethovenovo téma for viola and piano
  • Sonatina for violin and piano V tom našem sádečku a jiné lidové písničky for recorder and piano
  • Sextet for brass and organ ; also orchestratedEtudy pro dechový, Octet for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns and 2 bassoons
;PianoPrvní melodie: Snadné přednesové skladbičky pro mládež Motivy z dětství Groteska Dvě toccaty, Op. 2 Preludia, Op. 9 Sonatina C dur Tance: Domácí hudba for piano 4-hands Kousky pro klavír ve snadném slohu Písničky pro klapky: Snadné skladby, Easy Pieces Valčiky for piano 4-hands Čtyřruční hra: Cvičení a etudy for piano 4-hands Nový clavecin, Suite for Piano ; also for piano and string orchestraVoršilská ulička, Cycle of Easy Recital Compositions Džezík, Easy Pieces Fantazie for 2 pianos Variace na Pergolesiho téma for piano 4-hands Etudy Innocenza for piano 4-hands Voršilská ulička 2. sešit, Cycle of Easy Recital Compositions Šest rukou u jednoho klavíru, Suite in 4 Movements for piano 6-hands Hudba pro klavír 12 klavírních preludií
;VocalKvětiny, Song Cycle for soprano and piano, Op. 3 ; words by František VrbaDívčí písně for medium voice and piano, Op. 7 Písničky s flétnou, for high voice, flute and piano ; folk poetry textsŠalamoun for bass and string quartet or organ ; words from the Song of SongsMinutové písničky for soprano, flute and piano ; words by Václav Fischer and Jan HostáňMuzikanti, Suite for narrator and 18 instrumental soloists ; poems by František BranislavŠalamít, Song Cycle for medium voice and piano, or organ, or chamber ensemble ; words translated by Jaroslav Seifert from the Song of SongsPříběhy jedné kapely for narrator and chamber ensemble ; words by the composerVerba sancta for soprano and harpsichord or chamber orchestra
;ChoralMaryka, Cantata on Silesian Folk Lyrics for soprano, mixed chorus and orchestra ; texts adapted from Silesian folk nursery rhymesSbory o matkách, 3 Mixed Choruses to Folk Poetry Texts Vyhřátá mez, Cycle for children's chorus and piano ; words by Jan ČarekNoé, Oratorio for tenor, mixed chorus and orchestra ; Biblical textDětská terzetta for 3 children's voices, flute, harp and double bass ; words by František BranislavČervnová noc, Cycle of Duets for children's chorus and piano ; folk poetry textsVánočńí Pastorela for children's chorus and chamber ensemble Tři dcery, Small Cantata for children's chorus ; folk poetry textsEzop, Suita di cantate for mixed chorus and orchestra ; words by Pavel Jurkoviď after Aesop's FablesScény pro dětský sbor for children's chorus ; words by Václav Fischer and the composerOzvěna, Chamber Cantata for soloists, female chorus, chamber string orchestras, oboe and piano ; words by the composerSezónní madrigaly for mixed chamber chorus and instrumental ensemble ; words by the composerRozhovory matky s děckem, Children's Choruses ; folk texts and by the composerKapr, blecha a tak dále, Ditties for children's chorus and piano ; words by the composerVoda voděnka for children's chorus ; words by Václav FischerMissa Vinea Crucis for children's chorus and orchestra Letnice for children's chorus ; folk poetry and Biblical texts