Ilja Hurnik

Czech composer, pedagogue, writer and playwright. Born in teacher's family, began to compose in the age of 11. In 1938 after seizure of Czech-German borders by Hitler, the family moved to Prague. Hurnik studied conservatory there (composition under V. Novak, piano under V. Kurz), later also Musical Academy. As musician, he was recognized interpreter of Debussy and Janacek's piano works. In his composition, he was influenced by traditional music of his native Silesia (on Czech-Polish border), also impressionism, neoclassicism and New Music. Step by step without big style changes, he developed a very specific musical language of his own. He is the author of several musical textbooks and a keen popularizer of classical music (8 LP set Art of Music Listening, 19911998). His sister married the well known composer Petr Eben, his son Lukas is also a recognized composer. His three nephews have a popular folk band of the Eben Brothers.

• Vocal writings
• Flowers for Soprano and Piano , 1940
• Loneliness-Cycle for basso and piano (orchestra) on oriental lyrics , 1942
• Songs with flute on lyrics of Fr. Branislav and own , 1950
• June Night for childrens's Choir and piano on traditional lyrics , 1965
• Season Madrigals for Chamber Choir and band, own lyrics , 1982
• Watr Little Watr for children's Choir a capella , 1985
• Missa Vinea Crucis (for children's choir and orchestra or organ) , 1991
• Chamber works
• Concertino Violin and Piano
• 3 wind Quintets
• Four Seasons * Suite for chamber orchestra , 1953
• Sonata da camera for flute, oboe (violin), cellopro, cello and piano (cemballo) , 1952
• Sonata pro violin and piano , 1957
• Exercizi for fl. Ob. Cl. Fg. , 1958
• Solomon for baritone and string quartet , 1961
• Moments musicaux for wind ensemble , 1962
• Chabmer music for strings , 1962
• Gloria di flauti for 2 flutes , 1972
• Brass quintet , 1987
• Suite for saxophone and piano , 1979
• Piano works
• Preludios , 1942
• Sonatina in C , 1951
• New clavecin , 1975
• Home Music for piano in 4 hands , 1963
• Waltzes for Piano in 4 hands , 1971
• Four hand piano (theory, exercises, concertant etudes) , 1981
• Variations on Pergolesi theme for 4 hand piano , 1983
• Innocenza for 4 hand piano , 1992
• Orchestral works and concertos
• Partita pro flétnu a smyčce a klavír , 1950
• Concert for flute and orchestra , 1953
• Concert for oboe, cembalo and strings , 1954
• Klicperovska predehra pro orchestr , 1978
• Concertino for piano and strings , 1978
• Symfonieta for orchestra , 1996
• Symfonie in C for orchestra , 2000
• Musical-Dramatic Works
• 7 operas
• oratorios and cantatas

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