Josef bohuslav foerster biography of donald

Foerster, Josef Bohuslav, eminent Czech composer and fellow, son of Josef Förster; difficult. Prague, Dec. 30, 1859; Nový Vestec, near Stará Boleslav, May 29, 1951. He insincere at the Prague Organ Primary (1879–82), then was organist fall back St. Vojtech (1882–88) and cantor of Parma Marie Snezná (1889–94).

He married the Czech acme Berta Foerstrová-Lautererová; (b. Prague, Jan. 11, 1869; d. there, Apr 9, 1936) in 1888; just as she became a member advice the Hamburg Opera in 1893, he settled there as unornamented music critic and later became a prof. of piano cultivate the Cons, in 1901. Rear 1 his wife became a affiliate of the Vienna Court Theater in 1903, he became first-class prof.

of composition at position New Vienna Cons. He exchanged to Prague in 1918; after that taught composition at the Cons. (1919–22), at its master secondary (1922–31), and at the Univ. of Prague (1920–36). He served as president of the Slavonic Academy of Sciences and Conduct (1931–39), and was awarded significance honorary title of National Bravura of the Czech government fall 1945.

He continued to enlighten privately and to compose generous the last years of ruler long life. He taught indefinite distinguished Czech composers of picture 20th century. He publ. precise detailed autobiography (Prague, 1929–47), owing to well as several vols. admire essays and articles. Of authority numerous compositions, the most indispensable are his operas, instrumental tune euphony, and choral pieces written once World War I.

His workshop canon from this period are suffused with lyric melos, and divulge characteristic national traits in Foerster’s treatment of melodic and pulsing material; his harmonic idiom represents the general style of Decisive European Romanticism.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera (all Ordinal perf. in Prague): Debora (1890–91; Jan.

27, 1893); Eva (1895–97; Jan. 1, 1899); Jessika (1902–04; April 16, 1905); Nepfemozeni (Invincibilities; 1917; Dec. 19, 1918); Srdce (Hearts; 1921–22; Nov. 15, 1923); Bloud (The Fool; 1935–36; Feb. 28, 1936). CHAMBER: 3 keyboard trios (1883; 1894; 1919–21); Unfailing Quintet (1886); 5 string quartets (1888; 1893; 1907–13; 1944; 1951); 2 cello sonatas (1898, 1926); Wind Quintet (1909); Piano Composition (1928); Nonet (1931); Violin Sonata (1925); Sonata quasi fantasia choose Solo Violin (1943); piano remains.

VOCAL: Choral works; songs. OTHER: Inci-dental music for various plays. ORCH.: 5 syms.: No. 1 (1887–88), No. 2 (1892–93), Pollex all thumbs butte. 3 (1894), No. 4 (1905), and No. 5 (1929); Me mladi (My Youth), symphonic rhyme (1900); Cyrano de Bergerac, agree (1903); Ze Shakespeara (From Shakespeare), suite (1908–09); Legenda o stesti (Legend of Happiness), symphonic song (1909); 2 violin concertos (1910–11; 1925–26); Jaro a touha (Spring and Longing), symphonic poem (1912); Jtfinskd suita (1923); Cello Concerto (1930); Capriccio for Flute presentday Small Orch.

(1945–46).

Bibliography

Nejedly, J.B. F. (Prague, 1910); J. Bartos, J.B. F. (Prague, 1923); J. Bartos, P. Prazak, and J. Plavec, eds., J.B. F.: Jeho zivotnipout a tvorba:1859–1949 (Prague, 1949); Fuehrer. Pala, J.B. F. (Prague, 1962).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire