Ivan Řezáč

Ivan Řezáč (born November 5, 1924 in Řevnice near Prague , † December 26, 1977 in Prague) was a Czech composer .

Ivan Řezáč is one of many Eastern European composers who have been forgotten by the music world and, especially in Western Europe, are not noticed. With his extensive work, Řezáč provides a good insight into the development of Czech music in the 20th century.

Education and career

Ivan Řezáč was the son of the writers Václav Řezáč and Ema Řezáčova and had a talent for various subjects including literature . Professionally, however, he only devoted himself to music . He studied piano with František Rauch and composition with Václav Dobiáš at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts, where he then worked as a teacher. From 1953 to 1969 he was an assistant, from 1969 until the end of his life lecturer at the department for music theory . From 1968-76 he was director of the Prague Symphony Orchestra , which under his leadership made successful concert tours to the USA , the former USSR and several European countries, and which at that time became an important philharmonic institution.

The composer

Ivan Řezáč's compositional work is fundamentally based on European musical tradition. The elaborate polyphonic way of thinking plays an important role here . A thorough knowledge of the works of leading composers from all over the world is reflected in his scores . In his works, Řezáč networks the musical developments of various composers and thus creates a very personal style. He always tried musically to respond to people's current living conditions and to reflect developments in society . However, his analytical skills did not lead him to ossified scientific music. On the contrary: Řezáč's compositions convey a feeling of spontaneity and encourage people to take on responsibility.

reception

Especially in the last years of his life, Ivan Řezáč's work as a composer received the necessary recognition. Among other things, he received first prize in the " Mouvement Beethoven " competition in 1973 for his "Duo for violoncello and piano". His opera " Herr Theodor Mundstock ", which deals with the occupation of what was then Czechoslovakia in World War II , is still waiting for its world premiere . Ivan Řezáč is published by the Czech publisher Panton , which has meanwhile been incorporated into Schott Musik International . Many of his works are available as CD recordings.

Selection from the catalog raisonné

Orchestral works

• 1st Symphony (1958), 33 '
• The right thing. Overture for orchestra to Mayakovsky's poem (1959), 5.5 '
• 2nd symphony (1961), 20 '
• Six Pieces for Strings (1972), 20 '
• Sinfonietta "The Angel on the Garbage Heap" (1973), 16 '
• The Montage, in memory of Sergej Eisenstein, for chamber orchestra (1977), 15 '
• Vivace for 77 musicians (1977), 17 '

Concert works

• Sinfonietta "Heimkehr" for violoncello and orchestra (1962), 22 '
• 2nd piano concerto (1964), 20 '
• Concerto for Organ, Strings and Percussion (1968), 20 '
• 3rd piano concerto ISR (1973), 15 '
• The Quadrature of the Heart for string quartet and symphony orchestra (1974), 20 '
• Concerto for viola, harpsichord and string orchestra (1977), 20 '

Works for piano solo

• 2nd piano sonata (1957), 15 '
• Sonatina in C major for piano (1959), 9 '
• Drypoint work. Six pieces for piano (1961), 7 '
• Six preludes for piano (1965). 8th'
• The Sunday of Sisyphus for piano (1967), 6 '

Works for violoncello and piano

• Sonata for violoncello and piano (1956), 20 '
• Vier Notturnos for violoncello and piano (1959), 7 '
• Duo for violoncello and piano (1964), 17 '
• Metamorphoses. Variations on a Czech Folk Song for Violoncello and Piano (1965), 13 '

Other chamber music works

• Trio for violin, violoncello and piano (1958), 18 '
• The Torso of the Schumann Monument for viola and piano (1963) (also version with string orchestra), 10 '
• 2nd string quartet (1970), 19 '
• String Trio (1971), 18 '
• Wind quintet (1971) 18 '
• Inequalities for violin and piano (1972), 15 '
• Musica da camera for flute, oboe, violin, viola and violoncello (1974), 14 '
• Trio for French horn, violin and piano (1975), 20 '

Vocal works

• Four songs based on poems by Vítězslav Nezval for lower voice and piano (1960), 12 '
• Kainar by the water. Song cycle for bass and piano based on poems by Josef Kainar (1967), 17 '

Musical theater

• Mr. Theodor Mundstock. Full evening opera on the theme by Ladislav Fuks (1974)

Web links

• Literature and other media by and about Ivan Řezáč in the catalog of the National Library of the Czech Republic
• Works by and about Ivan Řezáč in the catalog of the German National Library