Vlastimil Lejsek
Vlastimil Lejsek was a Czech composer and pianist.
Biography
Lejsek was born on 21 July 1927 in Brno. He was the son of the Moravian choirmaster František Květoslav Lejsek. He studied at the Brno Conservatory and the Academies of Music in both Prague and Brno with František Schafer, Jan Erml and František Maxián. During his studies he received awards at many competitions, such as the International Smetana Competition and Franz Liszt Competition.With his wife, Věra Lejsková, he established a famous piano duo, collaborating with composers such as Milhaud, Britten, Lutoslawski and Shostakovich, and recording for the first time Dvořák's 4-hand works and many more. As a solo pianist, he premiered many works of his colleagues, as well as of his own.
The main body of his musical output consists music for piano duo and piano solo.
Besides being a composer and a performing and recording pianist, Lejsek also served at the music faculties of the Conservatory and Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno. He was a member of Moravian Composer's Club and also founder of the International Schubert Competition for Piano duos in Jeseník, one of the foremost music events of his country.
His wife is, besides a pianist, a writer, journalist and critic working for both press and radio. Together they were an important and inspiring couple in Czech musical life. Their life and work is depicted in the book "Interviews without piano" by Jan Trojan.
Selected works
;OperaNoc s Kobr a Štejnem, Rejvízská opera for soloists, chorus, piano 4 hands and percussion;OrchestralStříbrný pochod for wind orchestra ; original for piano 4 handsLozíbecký pochod ; original for piano 4 hands
;ConcertanteBrazilské tance for piano and orchestra ; original for 2 pianosPreludia for piano and orchestra ; original for piano solo
;Chamber musicDvě skladby for viola and piano Allegro giocoso for flute and piano Dvě malá dua for violin and piano Na Rejvízu for recorder, timpani and piano Duo con brio for clarinet and piano Sonatella for trumpet and piano Preludium, taneček a chorál for 2 trombones and piano
;Piano soloPět epigramů Ochozská polka ; original for 2 pianosSonatina in C Preludia ; also for piano and orchestraSešit for Věrku Měsíční svita Pianisté a koně Sonatella Espressivo Roční doby Kovbojská svita 21 reminiscencí klavírního vysloužilce Písnička ze sklepa
;Piano 4 handsDuettina for piano 4 hands
- Sonatina for piano 4 hands Duettinka for piano 4 hands Suita z opery Noc s Kobr a Štejnem Tanec, Serenáda pro Dr. Trojana a Variace Quattutor ludibria for piano 4 hands and pipe Stříbrný pochod for piano 4 hands ; also orchestratedSonata divertimenta for piano 4 hands Třikrát for dva Dueta Pět krátkých tanců Čtverlístek ; also for piano 6 handsSonatinka Lozíbecký pochod ; also for orchestraBalady z Moravy
;2 PianosBrazilské tance ; orchestrated in 1990Ochozská polka ; also for piano soloInvence Malá suita
- Sonata Toccata in memoriam František Schäfer Orchestys eni orchato for 2 pianos and tape Tanečky mistrů Divertimento Svita pro Lipník
;VocalDua pro manžele Škrabalovy for soprano and bassoon Čtyň slovácké písničky for voice and piano Dvě povídačky for voice and piano ; words by Věra LejskováNa hudební nástroje, hádej, kdo nám zahraje for voice and piano ; words by Věra LejskováDvé písní z Moravy for voice and piano ; words by the composer
;ChoralCo všechno musí udělat jaro for children's chorus and piano ; words by František HalasŘikadla naučná for children's chorus and piano ; words by Věra Lejsková