Osvald Chlubna


Osvald Chlubna was a Czech composer.

Life and career

Chlubna was born on 22 July 1893 in Brno. Intending originally to study engineering, Chlubna switched his major and from 1914 to 1924, he studied composition with Leoš Janáček. Until 1953, he worked as a clerk. Later, he taught at the Organ School in Brno for many years. He worked in many art organisations in Brno. Chlubna's works can be defined by three distinct periods: Romanticism, Impressionism, all the way to the Modern Constructivism. He delved into Symbolism as well. He used the texts of symbolic Czech poets, such as Otakar Březina, Jaroslav Vrchlický, Jaroslav Durych and others. He wrote several cycles of compositions for piano and organ, as well as instrumental concerts, symphonies, ouvertures and cantatas. He wrote many operas, often using his own librettos, such as The Revenge of Catullus based on the work of Vrchlický, Alladina and Palomid, Ňura, How the Death came in the World, Jiří from Kunštát and Poděbrady, Cradle, Eupyros. He also wrote texts and articles primarily about Janáček.
Chlubna died on 30 October 1971 in Brno, at the age of 78.

Selected works

Opera
  • Pomsta Catullova, 1 Act ; libretto by the composer based on the work of Jaroslav Vrchlický
  • Alladina a Palomid, 3 Acts ; libretto by the composer based on the work of Maurice Maeterlinck
  • Ňura, 2 Acts ; libretto by O. Dymov
  • Jak smrt přišla do světa ; libretto by the composer
  • Freje pána z Heslova, 4 Acts ; libretto by F. L. Stroupežnichký
  • Jiří z Kunštátu a Poděbrad, 3 Acts ; libretto by the composer based on the work of Alois Jirásek
  • Kolébka, 3 Acts ; libretto by the composer based on the work of Alois Jirásek
  • Eupyros, 3 Acts ; libretto by the composer
Ballet
  • Hrátky na drátkách ; libretto by the composer
Orchestra
  • Karneval podzimu, Op.82
  • Portály a fresky brněnské
  • Symphony No.3 "Osudová"
  • To je má zem, Cycle of Symphonic Poems for Orchestra
  • Veseloherní předehra
Band
  • Pochod sportovců
Concertante
Chamber
Piano
  • Nokturna, Cycle of Moods, Op.36
  • Preludium, toccata a fuga, Op.37
  • Sonáta-fantazie, Op.93
Organ
Choral
  • Já, potulný šumař, Cantata
  • Je krásná země má, Lyric Cantata for Chorus and Orchestra; text by F. Halas, A. Sova
  • Ve jménu života, Cantata for Chorus and Orchestra, Op.94
Vocal
  • Melancholické serenády o lásce for Voice and Piano, Op.62