Josef Klička

Josef Klicka (* November 15, 1855 in Klatovy, † March 28, 1937 ) was a Czech violinist, organist, composer, conductor and teacher. He is regarded as the founder of a tradition of modern organ improvisation and interpretation and as a composer than the Czech Orgelsymphoniker in the era of the Czech musical Romanticism.

Life and work

As a child he learned to play violin, his first teacher was his father Mansvet Klicka (1829-1887), who worked as a choirmaster in Klatovy. The Violin He studied at the Prague Conservatory with A. Bennewitz and played as a violinist in the theater orchestra while his livelihood. At the same time he studied organ at the Prague Organ School.

He was then organist at the Trinity Church and the Prague Emaus Monastery. In 1876 he was Kapellmeister at the Theater Directorate P. Švanda and also began to teach singing. From 1878 to 1881 he served as second conductor at the Prague Provisional Theatre.

In November 1889 he was appointed organ teacher at the Prague Conservatory. As an educator, he represented from 1892 to 1895 Antonín Dvořák, who was at that time in the United States. Student of Klicka was the later Viennese Professor of Organ Councillor Max Springer. From 1890 to 1897 he also served as conductor of the Prague Choral Society Hlahol. In 1920 he became head of the master class for organ, he held this office until retirement in 1924.

During his studies he worked as a composer, created choral songs, cantatas and orchestral works. He also composed music for harp, especially for his son Wenceslas (1882-1953), celebrated internationally under the stage name Klicka as a harp virtuoso, and his daughter Helena Nebeská - Kličková (1878-1951), also a significant representative of their craft. He had the most success but as a composer of great neuromantischer organ works which he allegedly wrote from experience when giving concerts on the just completed Sauer organ at the Prague Rudolfinum.

Even if he is not so well known, Klicka was one of the best Czech musicians of his time. The cities of Prague and Klatovy appointed him honorary citizen Hlahol and other musical collaborations as an honorary member.

Works

• Opera Spanilá mylnářska ( The Beautiful Miller ), Prague 1888
• Incidental music
• Cantatas and choral music
• Songs
• Church music ( among other things 7 Measure )
• Orchestral works
• Chamber Music
• Compositions for harp (including 2 fantasies of national songs, Rhapsody on the Czech national anthem, fantasies about Serbian songs)

Significantly, his works were for organ