Otomar Kvěch
Otomar Kvěch was a Czech music composer and teacher.
Biography
Kvěch was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. His father was a sound engineer with Czechoslovak Radio, and later held technical jobs in various industrial companies. Kvěch's mother was a shop-assistant.In 1955, he had his first lessons in piano. He prepared for three years for his entry exam to the Prague Conservatory, and graduated after studying composition with Jan Zdeněk Bartoš and organ with Joseph Kuban. After 1969, he studied composition at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts with Jiří Pauer, as well as one semester with Emil Hlobil. After graduation, he worked as an accompanist at the Opera National Theatre.
In 1972, he married Miluška Wagnerová, a fellow-student from his organ class, and had daughters Eva and Martina. In 1976, he returned from a yearlong national service in the Army Art Ensemble, and took a job as music director in Czechoslovak Radio. In 1980, he took a position as Secretary of the Composers Union, which allowed him better opportunities for composition.
In 1990, political and social changes in his country forced Kvěch to return to a job at Czechoslovak Radio as programme manager and music editor. At the same time, he began teaching music theory and composition at Prague Conservatory. In 2000, Kvěch's wife died, and three years later he married Jana Smékalová, long-time programme manager of Supraphon. From 2000 to 2018, he was employed at the Jewish Museum in Prague.
As a composer, Kvěch adopted a number of technical elements from "Musica Nova," and transplanted these into the "Classical" approach. At the time of his death, Kvěch was Head of the Department of Composition at the National Conservatory in Prague and taught music analysis at the Academy of Music. He also worked as a music editor at the Czech radio station Vltava. He died in Prague on 16 March 2018.
Works
;OrchestralPocta Bachovi, Suite Předehra- Symphony in E major Karneval světa, Overture
- Symphony in D major RUR: Passacaglia na námět hry K. Čapka
- Symphony in E minor for string quartet and orchestra Serenata notturna for string orchestra Nocturnalia for woodwind ensemble Serenáda na témata českých koled
- Symphony in C minor for organ and orchestra Proměna, Sinfonietta for violin and string orchestra Capriccio, Concerto for piano trio and orchestra Čtvero ročních dob, Symphony in A major for organ and orchestra Kassadandra, Symphonic Picture for English horn and orchestra Švandovo uvolněné odpoledne, Overture for bagpipes and orchestra
- String Quartet No. 1
- String Quartet No. 2 Hudba pro soutěž for bassoon and piano Kvintetiáda for woodwind quintet
- Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano
- String Quartet No. 3 Shakespearovské ozvěny for flute, violin, cello and piano
- Piano Trio Furioso, Dance for oboe and piano
- Scherzo for violin and viano
- String Quartet No. 4 Adagio and Allegro for tuba and piano
- Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano
- Sonata No. 3 for violin and piano
- Duo for violin and cello Šest preludií for flute solo
- Duo for oboe and bassoon
- Sonata for cello and piano
- Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon Otisky for flute, bass clarinet and piano
- Scherzo for 5 cellos Taneční fantasie for guitar quartet
- Sonata for viola and viano
- String Quartet No. 5
- Piano Quintet Muzikou zní každá žilka, Polka for recorder choir Tři pastorale for oboe solo
- Sonata for oboe and piano Idyllica for oboe, clarinet and bassoon
- Sextet "Hrubínovské variace" for oboe, harp and string quartet
- String Quartet No. 7
- String Quartet No. 8 with solo soprano
- String Quartet No. 6 "Mozartův stesk" Koncertantní etuda for oboe and piano
- Sonata for piano Introdukce, fuga a coda for accordion Pražské panorama for organ Portrét, Sonata-Fantasia for organ Album, Cycle of Compositions for piano Chorální sonáta for organ Variační sonáta for organ
- Sonata No. 4 for organ
;VocalKdyž zašla cesta, Song Cycle for soprano and piano ; words by Jan HoraSonáta lásky k životu for baritone and string orchestra Co v sobě skrýváš, Song Cycle for baritone and piano V krajině vzpomínání, Song Cycle for high voice and piano ; words by František BranislavPijácké popěvky, Song Cycle for baritone and piano Aufer a nobis for voice and organ Alleluja for voice and organ Crescendo, Song Cycle for baritone and orchestra Haiku o Praze, Melodrama for recitor and viola ; words by Karel TrinkewitzHlubina bezpečnosti, Short Cantata for soprano and piano ; words by John Amos ComeniusPouštěj chléb svůj po vodě, 5 Meditations for 2 baritones and organ ; Biblical textBouře a klid, Melodrama for recitor, violin and orchestra ; words by Emmy DestinnTo nechce klid, 5 Melodramas for recitor, flute and contrabassoon ; words by Jaroslav Hašek
;ChoralVánoční chvalozpěv, Cantata for soloists, mixed chorus and orchestra Pohádka o smrčku for children's choir, child soloists, narrator and small orchestra Cesta světnicí, Cantata for baritone, male chorus and orchestra Ukolébavka pro Martina for male chamber chorus Tři mužské sbory s křídlovkou na Ladovy obrázky ; words by Kamil BednářKuchyňská kapela, Song for children's chorus ; words by Jan KrůtaZe Sci-fi zápisníku, 3 Female Choruses ; words by Tomáš JanovicJarní motivy, Cycle for mixed chorus a cappella ; words by Jan NerudaVivat Komenský, Song Cycle for children's chorus ; words by Václav Fischer
- Requiem for soloists, children's, men's and mixed chorus, instrumental soloists, organ and orchestra Missa con Viola Obligata for mixed chorus, viola solo, percussion and organ Žalm 67 for mixed chorus, trumpet and organ Zvony z Dvora králové, 3 Choruses with organ