Otmar Macha
born: 1922-10-02died: 2006-12-14
birthplace: Ostrava
diedplace: Praha
Czech composer, musical director and dramaturgist. After high school in Ostrava he studied composition at the Conservatory of Prague under prof. Ridky. Since 1945 he worked for Czechoslovak Radio as musical director, dramaturgist and editor. Since 1970's he devoted all his time to music. He was influenced by moravian folk music, most of all in the early small compositions (songs, chamber music). Gradually, he headed towards larger musical units distinguished by melodical and rhytmical creativity. All his time he comes back to works for children, starting from nursery rhymes and songs to musical tales in form of melodrama.
Work: (selected)
- Chamber music
- Spring Sonata (Sonata No. 1) for violin and piano , 1948
- Sonata for bassoon nad piano , 1963
- Saxophone Weeping for saxophone and piano , 1968
- Preludium, aria and toccata for accordeon , 1978
- String quartet No. 2 , 1982
- Apollo and Marsyas for flute and violin , 1984
- Capriccia for piano trio , 1985
- Autumn Sonata (Sonata No. 2) for violin and piano , 1987
- Prague Fantasy for Organ , 1993
- Movimento, for Brass and Organ , 2004
- Orchestral music
- Ouverture for Big Orchestra , 1945
- Moravian Folk Dances , 1948
- Slovak Rhapsody , 1951
- Night and Hope. Symphonic Poem , 1959
- Celebratory March for Symphonic Orchestra , 1962
- Variations on Theme and Death of Jan Rychlik for Orchestra , 1964
- Symfonietta No. 1 , 1971
- Baroque Ouverture for Wind Instruments Orchestra , 1982
- Gambrinus. Symphonical Ouverture , 1998
- Sinfonia Bohemorum (2001-03)
- Concertant Works
- Hommage a Josef Suk, for Violin and String Orchestra , 1977
- Double Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra , 1978
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra , 1989
- Christmas Concertino for Guitar and String Orchestra , 1995
- Variations on Medieval Song "Pure Virgin", for Violin and String Orchestra , 1998
- Ballad and Finale for Viola, Piano and Strings , 2001
- Vocal Music
- Songs on Ukrainian Folk Lyrics , 1947
- Men's Songs on lyrics by Rudyard Kipling , 1947
- Letters of Karel Burian , 1947
- Folk Ballads for Soprano, Tenor and Piano /also in orchestral version/ , 1950
- Songs from Hornacko. Collection of folk songs for voice and piano , 1950
- Moravian Folk Songs for 3 Women's Voices and Piano , 1950
- Legacy of Jan Amos Komensky. Oratorio for Mezzosoprano, Mixed Chorus, Organ and Orchestra , 1955
- Four Monologues for Soprano, Barytone and Orchestra on Lyrics by Frantisek Xaver Salda (1965-66)
- Little Jane Singing. Suite for Soprano and Orchestra on Lyrics by Stanislav Kinzl , 1969
- Little Triplet. Three songs for Soprano with Tambourine and Flute on lyrics by Vera Richtrova , 1971
- Laschian Shouting Songs. Cycle of Children's Choruses on Folk Lyrics , 1971
- Eyes and Hands. Dramatic song for Mezzosoprano, Clarinet, Viola and Piano on lyrics by Stanislav Kin , 1975
- Concerto grosso for Soprano, Mezzosoprano, Alto, Tenor, Baryton and Symphonic Orchestra , 1980
- Four Men's Choruses on Poems by Vitezslav Nezval , 1980
- Long Since. Mixed Chorus on Antient Egyptian Lyrics , 1983
- Ten Christmas Carols, version for High Voice, Soprano Instrument and Piano , 1988
- Homage to Gustav Mahler, for Mixed Chorus , 1998
- Old COuntry. Oratorio for Soprano, Alto and Barytone Solo, Mixed Chorus and Orchestra after Vladisla , 1989
- Trios of Unicov, for Girls' Voices and Piano on folk lyrics from Hana , 1989
- Psalms No. 14, 2 and 91, for Barytone and Organ , 1989
- Hymn-Cantata Piccola (Cedant Arma Togae), on Latin Tripple Verse by Jan Amos Komensky for Children's , 1989
- Moravian Legends on Holy Folk Lyrics for Voice, Flute and Piano , 1990
- Testament. Three Arias for Soprano, Clarinet and String Quartet on lyrics by Jan Amos Komensky , 1995
- Operas, musical-dramatic works and movie soundtrac
- Master of Trebon (Short Film) , 1950
- Entrapped Infidelity. Comic Opera on Old Czech Anonymous Lyrics , 1957
- Ukereve Lake. Opera in 5 Acts on Theme by Vladislav Vancura , 1963
- Roses for Johanna. Commemoration Ceremony for the Brave, Libretto by Josef Pavek , 1974
- Lullaby for Sinful Virgins. Musical COmedy on Themes of the Play by Alois Jirasek , 1976
- Big Wish (Film, dir. Vojtech Trapl) , 1980
- Changes of Prometheus. Musical TV Drama , 1981
- Wandering of Jan Amos (film, dir. Otakar Vavra) , 1983
- Comedian (film) , 1984
- Oldrich and Bozena (film) , 1984
- Veronika (film) , 1985
- Europe Was Waltzing (film) , 1989
Sources:
Little Encyclopedia of Music (dr. Jar. Smolka; &col., Supraphon 1983)
Book of Music (V.Holzknecht & col., Orbis 1964)
Samples:
Hoj,hura,hoj (MP3) (adaptation of folk song from the cycle Laschian Shouting Songs, Children's Choir Jitro, dir. Jiri Skopal, CD Amabile 1993)
