Otto Albert Tichý

Otto Albert Tichý ( born August 14, 1890 in Martínkov; † 21 October 1973, Prague) was a Czech composer and church musician.

Life

Otto Albert Tichý visited Brno in high school and then studied at Prague Vítězslav Novák composition. In 1919 he continued his studies in Paris with Vincent d' Indy. He studied composition, Gregorian chant and organ. After graduating in 1926 he took the offer to act in Lausanne as an organist and choirmaster at Notre Dame Cathedral, and as a teacher at the high school of the Dominicans. In 1936 he returned to his homeland and became director of music at St. Vitus Cathedral. Together with the conductor Miroslav Venhoda he also founded in Prague the " Schola Cantorum ", a private music school with boarding facilities.

After the Second World War was Tichý professor among others for organ, choral conducting and Gregorian chant at the Prague Conservatory and a little later he was invited to work at the Prague Academy of Music. After the communist takeover in 1948 but was expelled from there, his activity was unwanted by the new rulers. At the Prague Conservatory, but he was more respected, especially because of its versatile education. It was not until 75 years Tichý acknowledged his teaching career at the Conservatory and a year later his office at the St. Vitus Cathedral. Tichý died in 1973 at the age of 83 years during a Sunday church visit to the St. Vitus Cathedral.

Work

Otto Albert Tichý mainly composed church music and felt it the style of Cecilianism committed.

Even before his death, he was able to complete his great cantata Rødne zemi ( Cantata for the fatherland ).

Tichy also translated religious and philosophical books.

However, neither his compositions nor any of its translations under the Communists had a chance to appear in print.