Karel Bendl

Karel Bendl (* April 16, 1838 in Prague, † September 20, 1897 ) was a Czech composer.

Life

The interest in music aroused in him by his grandfather, who taught him to play the piano. He learned the trade of a glover and graduated in 1858 with Karl Pietsch Organ School and taught there his attention to the then new forms of choral interpretations, two - and polyphonic singing.

Already from an early age he appeared in the music room and sang in choirs tenor voice. Three years later, he received an award for his self -composed song Poletuje Holubice.

Since 1863, year of the founding of the Artists' Union Umělecká beseda, he organized the musical department. In the fall of 1864, he left Bohemia and looked at his study trip to new experiences abroad. In Brussels, he was offered the position of second Kapellmeister at the Deutsche Oper. After the financial collapse, he went from there to Amsterdam and Paris.

1865 back in Prague, he was elected as the successor of Bedřich Smetana to the director of the choir Hlahol he then artistically made ​​to one of the large ensemble and directed until 1877.

At the same time he composed his first opera Lejla, which premiered on January 4, 1868, received by the public and the critics. From 1874 to 1875 he served as second conductor of the National Theatre (then Provisional Theatre) worked.

1877 laid down the line of Bendl Hlahol, which commenced against his ideas more and more contemporary works in its repertoire. He then took over until 1878 the post of choirmaster at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Prague's Old Town.

1878 then the position of Kapellmeister in the private chapel of the Russian Baron von Dervies in Lugano and Nice on. During this time, with daily samples from the extensive repertoire with works by famous classics to modern times, he deepened his knowledge and skills. He continued to compose, wrote at the suggestion of his benefactor, the opera Gina, continued his composition Švanda dudák, a masterpiece with its own setting of the Bohemian melody. In 1881 he talked to kurt in Milan. After his return to Prague he took over, he edited the music supplement of " the humorous Sheets" ( Humoristické listy ) ( 1883-86 ), and published in a series of small salon pieces by famous composers. In addition, he edited books with little songs for male voice choirs, which appeared under the name Hlahol.

After emigrating to America in 1894 Antonín Dvořák, Bendl took his class for composition at the Prague Conservatory. This position he held until his death.

Significant works

His works include Slavic and Far Eastern and Turkish components. In his later compositions occur kosmopolitanische elements. He wrote nine musical plays and 12 pieces for choir and orchestra, and seven instrumental compositions and numerous songs.

Most of his compositions are in the National Museum, but so far lacks a detailed list of his works.

Opera

  • Lejla
  • Břetislavova a Jitka
  • Stary ženich, comical National Opera in accordance with Bedřich Smetana's The Bartered Bride
  • Čarovný květ, comic opera with a libretto by Eduard Rüffer.

Operetta

  • Indicka princezna

Singspiele

  • Černohorci
  • Karel Škréta
  • Gina ( libretto Gaetano Cimini )
  • Erbenovy Štědrý the
  • Dítě Tabor ( text Eliska Krásnohorská )
  • Cervena Karkulka
  • Po bitvě Bělohorské
  • Kališníci
  • Umírající Husita
  • Ciganske melody
  • Hebrejská elegie
  • SMRT Prokopa Velkého
  • Ptáče
  • Při předení
  • Zpěv vil nad vodami ( for female voices with orchestra)
  • Narod sobe ( Cantata )

Instrumentals

  • Tarantella
  • Jihoslovanská rhapsody
  • Slavnostní pochod
  • Koncertní Poloneza
  • Svatební průvod
  • Slavnostní předehra
  • Dithyramb a Preludium
  • Scherzo and Romance for violin and orchestra.

Sacred Music

  • Mass in D minor for male voices
  • Ave with organ accompaniment
Josef Bohuslav Foerster List of Czech composers Integrated Authority File
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