Stepan Rak (*8.8.1945 Sandrov by Chrust, Ukraine)

prominent Czech gitar player. composer and pedagogue. He studied at the High School of Arts in Prague-Radotin, then guitar and composition at the conservatory of Prague under Stepan Urban and Zdenek Hula (1963-1970). After that, Academy of Musical Arts (composition under J. Dvoracek). After studies, music teacher at several state musical schools. In 1975-1980 a teacher at the conservatory of Finland, where he also performed as guitar concert master. After return, teacher at the conservatory of Prague, Pedagogical Faculty of Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), since 1992 teacher at the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague. Popular acccompanying guitarist for his ability to cooperate with colleagues across genres (cooperations with fol singer Jaroslav Hutka, popular female singer Lenka filipova etc.) His son Jan-Matej is also an excellent guitarist and composer and keen popularizer of Jaroslav Jezek.

Works (selected):

• Strijng Quartet, op. 14 - 1972
• Piano Sonata, op. 13 - 1974
• Hiroshima, orchestral suite, op. 16 - 1974
• Czech Dream, Ricercar for big wind orchestra, organ and drums, op. 21 - 1974
• Romance for Guitar and violoncello, op. 5 - 1696 and 1974
• Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra in C Major - op. 26 - 1975
• Memory of Prague for Violin and Guitar - op. 36 - 1978
• Rapsodia per violino solo - op. 3 - 1979
• Fiddler's Suite for Accordion Solo - op. 32 - 1980
• Czech Tales for Flute and Guitar - op. 43 - 1982
• Guitar Weeping for Guitar and Marimba - op. 11 - 1983
• Four for Three for Oboe, Bassoon and Guitar - op. 49 - 1985
• Songs of Night Dragons, Series of songs with guitar without lyrics - op. 59 - 1986
• Balalajka pro kytaru a lidský hlas - opus 66 - 1989
• Vivat comenius, concerto for guitar, violin, recorder, human voice and Orff's Instrumantation with lyrics of J.A.Komensky - 1989
• Sunset, for solo guitar - op. 67 - 1990
• Partia di Bohemia, for solo guitar - opus 72 - 1991
• Prélude, for solo guitar - opus 72 - 1991
• Darwiniana, for solo guitar - 1972
• Terra Australis I., for solo guitar - 1992
• Terra Australis II., for solo guitar - 1993
• Sorrowful Murmur of Niagara, for solo guitar - 1995
• The Christmas Time, thirty carols for solo guitar - 1996
• Romaza, for solo guitar - 1996
• With Guitar Around the World, for solo guitar - 1996
• Eine kleine Rakmusik, for solo guitar - 1996
• Suite - The renaissance suite, for solo guitar - 1997
• Rudolfiana, for solo guitar - 1997
• La folia, variace for solo guitar - 1998
• Song Glumgdauglic, for solo guitar - 1999
• 20000 Miles Under the Sea, for solo guitar - 2000
• Royal Suite, for solo guitar - 2002
• Praising of Time, for solo guitar - 2002

Sources:

Wikipedia
Little Encyclopedia of Music (dr. Jar. Smolka; &col., Supraphon 1983)
Stepan Rak Official Site
Myspace.com presentation

Sample (MP3):
Giordano Bruno - Andante (Dagmar Zsapkova-Sebestova flute, Jozef Zsapka guitar, LP Dedication, Opus 1992)