Josef Bohuslav Foerster

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Josef Bohuslav Foerster
Sitting, from left to right: Antonín Dvořák , Heinrich von Kaan , Zdeněk Fibich . Standing, from left to right: Karel Bendl , Josef Bohuslav Foerster, Karel Kovařovic (1885)
A memorial plaque for Bohuslav Förster on the house he lived in in Vienna-Hietzing from 1908 to 1918

Josef Bohuslav Foerster (born December 30, 1859 in Prague , Austrian Empire , † May 29, 1951 in Nový Vestec , near Čelákovice ) was a Czech composer .

Life

Josef Bohuslav Foerster, the son of the composer Josef Foerster , studied at the Prague Conservatory . He moved with his wife, the opera singer Bertha Lauterer , to Hamburg , where he worked as a critic and since 1901 as a teacher at the conservatory. There he met Gustav Mahler , with whom he soon became a close friend. From 1903 to 1918 Foerster lived as a critic and teacher in Vienna . Then he got a job as a teacher at the conservatory in his hometown. In 1921 he became professor of composition and headed the institute from 1922 to 1931. After that he was head of the Czech Academy until 1939. In 1946 he was named a national artist.

Foerster composed operas , five symphonies , symphonic poems , suites , overtures , one cello and two violin concertos , chamber music works, sacred choral works, masses , motets and songs . Foerster's style is particularly influenced by Antonín Dvořák . Later, a partial approach to more modern styles of music becomes noticeable. However, Foerster never denied his romantic musical ideal.

His autobiography " The Pilgrim ", published in two volumes in 1942 and 1947 , is an important document of the cultural life of the time. Josef Bohuslav Foerster was also active as a painter, primarily of landscape paintings.

Works (selection)

  • Symphony No. 1 in D minor
  • Symphony No. 2 in F major
  • Symphony No. 3 in D major "Life"
  • Symphony No. 4 in C minor "Easter Vigil" , 1905
  • Symphony No. 5 in D minor
  • "In the Mountains" Suite in 4 Movements , Op. 7, 1910
  • Cyrano de Bergerac op.55, symphonic poem
  • From Shakespeare op.76, symphonic poem
  • Hymn of the Angels
  • Stabat mater
  • Mortius fratribus
  • Missa Glagolytica
  • Saint Wenceslas , oratorio
  • Debora , Opera, 1890/91
  • Eva , Opera, 1895–97
  • Jessika , opera based on William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice , 1902-04
  • Nepřemožení ( The Unconquered ), opera, 1917
  • Srdce ( The Heart ), 1921/22
  • Bloud ( The Gate ), Opera, 1935/36
  • Chamber music
    • Duos
      • Sonata for Violin and Piano in B minor, Op. 10, 1889
      • Princess Gänseblümchen, Suite for violin and piano op.35, after 1897
      • Sonata for violoncello and piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 45, 1898
      • Ballade for violin and piano op.92, 1914
      • Fantasy for violin and piano op.128, 1925
      • Sonata for violoncello and piano No. 2 op.130, 1926
      • 2 Impromptus for violin and piano op.154, 1934
      • Zbirožská suita [Zbiroh-Suite] for viola and piano op. 167, 1940
      • Sonata quasi fantasia for violin and piano op.177, 1943
    • Piano trios
      • No. 1 in F minor, Op. 8, 1883
      • No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 38, 1894
      • No. 3 in A minor, Op. 105, 1919–21
    • String quartets
      • No. 1 in E major op.15, 1888
      • No. 2 in D major op.39, 1893
      • No. 3 in C major op. 61, 1907-13
      • No. 4 in F major op.182, 1944
      • No. 5 “Vestecký” in F major, 1951
    • Other occupations
      • String quintet op.3, 1886
      • Wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn) in D major op.95, 1909
      • Piano quintet op.138, 1928
      • Nonet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass) in F major op.147, 1931
      • Elegy for solo violin, 1945

literature

  • Josef Bartoš, Přemysl Pražák, Josef Plavec (eds.): JB Foerster. Jeho životní pouť a tvorba, 1859-1949 . Orbis, Prague 1949, (with catalog raisonné, bibliography and discography).
  • Dějiny české hudební kultury 1890/1945 . 2 volumes. Academia, Prague 1972-1981.
  • Zdeněk Nejedlý : Jos. B. Foerster . Komorní hudební závod Mojmíra Urbánka, Prague 1910.
  • František Pala: Josef Bohuslav Foerster, the pilgrim. Memories of a musician . Translation by Pavel Eisner . Artia, Prague 1955.

Web links

Commons : Josef Bohuslav Foerster  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Foerster, Josef Bohuslav
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Czech composer
DATE OF BIRTH December 30, 1859
PLACE OF BIRTH Prague
DATE OF DEATH May 29, 1951
Place of death Nový Vestec