Rudolf Nováček


Rudolf Nováček was a Czech composer, military conductor, and pedagogue.

Life and career

Rudolf Nováček was born to the conductor and Maria Hildebrand in the village of Bela Crkva. His younger brothers were the musicians Ottokar, and who with their father toured as the Nováček Family String Quartet.
Rudolf Nováček studied at the Timișoara music school and then the Vienna Conservatory. He became conductor of 11th Battalion in the Austro-Hungarian Army and then a member of 12th Battalion. In 1884 he joined the Artistic Organization in Prague along with other significant Czech composers such as Antonín Dvořák, Zdeněk Fibich and Karel Bendl.
In 1890 he became bandleader of the 1st Cavalry Regiment in Sofia and then from 1891 until 1895 in the Romanian Royal Guard in Bucharest. He worked as conductor and music teacher in many cities in Russia, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.
After the creation of Czechoslovakia, he had to become the director of the military school of the Czechoslovak Army. He died in 1929 in Prague after an operation.

Major works

Marches

Pochod 74. pluku Benedek Jubiläums Marsch, 1879Defilir-March, op. 25Castaldo, op. 40, named after commander of 28th Battalion Ludwig Castaldo, one of the well-known marches in Central EuropeNáš druhý milion, 1891Na zdar naší výstavěMy plzeňští hošiKoridor MarschPochod generála Laudona Kde domov můjPozdrav ze SofiePochod našich hochůKardiefPochod ministra Národní obranyNa prej
  • ''Ahoj!''

Dance music

Kouzlo květů, polka françaiseHygea, polkaVelebínka, polkaPles juristů, polkaPohádková kouzla, waltzMezi bratry, polka mazurČeské album taneční, waltz

Other compositions

Osm pamětních lístků, Op. 1Little Suite for Piano