Ctirad Kohoutek

Ctirad Kohoutek ( born March 18, 1929 in Zábřeh na Moravě; † 19 September 2011 in Brno ) was a Czech composer, musicologist and educator -.

Kohoutek studied after the completion of secondary school at the Conservatory and the Janáček Academy of Music in music theory, composition and conducting with Vilém Petrželka Jan and Jaroslav Kvapil Šoupal. In 1963 he took part in the Summer School of Music with Witold Lutosławski at Dartington, 1965, he attended the Darmstadt summer courses with Pierre Boulez and György Ligeti. At the Palacký University Olomouc in 1973 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ( PhDr. ) in music theory and history.

From 1953 to 1980 Kohoutek taught at the Janáček Academy of Music, first as an assistant and later as a lecturer in composition. From 1976 to 1980 he was Vice-Rector for Research and International Relations. From 1980 to 1990 he was professor of composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In addition, he was from 1980 to 1987 director of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a composer Kohoutek began with embossed from the classical and romantic tradition and influenced by Czech folk works. He later found to own musical language, which was also based a graphical method of composition. In his later works, he returned for the sake of easier accessibility to a simpler musical language back. In addition to orchestral works and chamber music he composed numerous choral works as well as pieces for music lessons.