Štěpán Rak


Štěpán Rak is a Czech classical guitarist and composer of Ukrainian origin. He is well known for the technical innovations that he uses in his compositions.
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Biography

Štěpán Rak was born as Štěpán Slivka in Prague to Cilja Slivka. His mother escaped from Carpathian Ruthenia in 1941 after it was occupied by Hungary. She was imprisoned in USSR and joined Czechoslovak Army in 1944. Štěpán was adopted by Marie and Josef Rak in 1946 and his biological mother later returned to Ukraine.
Rak first studied at a Fine Arts High School in Prague and continued with guitar studies at the Prague Conservatory until 1970. Later he studied composition at the Prague Academy of Arts. In 1973, his orchestral composition Hiroshima won a second prize at a Czechoslovak competition for young composers. From 1975 to 1980 he taught guitar at the Jyväskylä Conservatory in Finland. After his return to Czechoslovakia he taught at Prague Conservatory. Since 1982 he has been teaching guitar at Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Rak speaks English, Russian, Finnish and German.

Compositions

Solo Guitar

Sonata per chitarra No. 1 Sonata per chitarra No. 2 Variation on theme by Jaromír Klempíř Toccata Pláč kytary, in memoriam of F. G. Lorca Hora - Romanian dance Danza Mauretana Slunce Andante, Vzpomínka na létoHiroshima Small nocturno Suite for guitar Partita semplice Finská pověst Český chorál Sbohem Finsko Romance Homanaje á Tárrega Renaissance suite Suite-etude Decem. partita per chitara No. 2 Rozmary Poslední diskotéka Variation on theme by Nikita Koshkin První láska Vzpomínka na Prahu Voces de profundis Five Concert Etudes
  • ''Minutová sóla''

Orchestra

Vodní znamení Hiroshima Český sen Concerto for guitar and orchestra in C-major Rennaisance concerto for marimba, string orchestra and tympani

Selected discography

Remembering Prague The Guitar Of Štěpán Rak Dedications Terra Australis Teskně Hučí Niagara Hledání Lásky Song For David
  • ''Chvála Čaje''

Family

His son Jan-Matěj Rak is a folk musician.

Works

  • Thesis by Reza Khota