Emil Hlobil

Full biography Emil Hlobil

Emil Hlobil was a Czech composer and music educator, born on July 24, 1901, in the town of Chrudim. He was a student at the Conservatory in Pardubice and studied composition with Vitezslav Novak. Hlobil then continued his studies at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Prague, where he studied with Jaroslav Kricka and Alois Haba.

Hlobil became a professor at the Prague Conservatory in 1945, where he taught many notable Czech composers and musicians, including Ivana Loudova, Lubos Fiser, and Ivan Kurz. He was particularly interested in the use of microtones, which he explored in many of his own compositions. He wrote music in a variety of genres, including opera, orchestral music, chamber music, and songs.

One of Hlobil's most significant accomplishments as a teacher was his encouragement of his students to explore their own unique musical voices, rather than conforming to a particular compositional style or tradition. He believed that music should be a reflection of the composer's individuality and inner life.

Hlobil died on January 25, 1987, in Prague, at the age of 85. His compositions continue to be performed and recorded by musicians and ensembles around the world.