Karel Husa

Short bio Karel Husa

Birthday: 1921 in Prague, Czech Republic

Died: 2016 in Apex, NC

Active: 1950s - 1990s

Genre: Classical

Period: Contemporary

Full biography Karel Husa

Karel Husa was a Czech-born classical composer and conductor , who was born on August 7, 1921, in Prague. He began his musical studies in his hometown before moving to Paris in 1946 to study with Arthur Honegger, Nadia Boulanger, and Andrzej Panufnik. In 1954, he moved to the United States, where he continued his studies at the Juilliard School and taught at Cornell University until his retirement in 1992.

Throughout his career, Husa was known for his innovative compositions and use of unconventional musical techniques, earning him numerous awards and recognition. In 1969, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his composition "String Quartet No. 3." Husa also composed music for a variety of other media, including ballets, operas, and films.

One of Husa's most well-known compositions is "Music for Prague 1968," which was written in response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia. The work is a powerful reflection on the tragedy and suffering of the Czech people during this time and has since become a staple in wind band repertoire.

Husa believed that music should have a purpose, and his compositions often addressed important social and political issues, such as war, oppression, and injustice. Throughout his life, he remained a strong advocate for the role of music in society, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of musicians and composers.

Karel Husa passed away on December 14, 2016, at the age of 95, leaving behind a rich and diverse body of work that continues to be studied and performed around the world.

Compositions featuring Karel Husa

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Studies (3), for clarinet	8:28 min	Chamber Music	2007
2	Cheetah, for wind ensemble	5:49 min	Band Music	2006
3	Postcard from Home, for saxophone & piano	3:10 min	Chamber Music	1997
4	Les couleurs fauves, for wind ensemble	15:14 min	Band Music	1996
5	Poems (5) for wind quintet	16:03 min	Chamber Music	1994
6	String Quartet No. 4 ("Poems")	21:05 min	Chamber Music	1990
7	Varitions for piano quartet	23:08 min	Chamber Music	1984
8	Smetana Fanfare, for symphonic band	3:36 min	Band Music	1984
9	Symphony No. 2 ("Reflections")	18:47 min	Symphony	1983
10	Concertino for piano & wind ensemble	16:26 min	Concerto	1983
11	Concerto for wind ensemble	23:08 min	Concerto	1982
12	Recollections, chamber concert for piano and wind quintet	19:21 min	Keyboard	1982
13	Trojan Women, ballet	36:34 min	Ballet	1981
14	Sonata a Tre for violin, clarinet & piano	18:25 min	Chamber Music	1981
15	Intradas and Interludes, for 7 trumpets & percussion	15:26 min	Chamber Music	1980
16	Landscapes, for brass quintet	18:17 min	Chamber Music	1977
17	Al Fresco, for symphonic band	11:50 min	Band Music	1975
18	Sonata No.2 for Piano	19:33 min	Keyboard	1975
19	Apotheosis of this Earth, version for chorus & orchestra	27:18 min	Choral	1973
20	Sonata for Violin and Piano	34:55 min	Chamber Music	1972
21	Sonnets (2) from Michelangelo, for orchestra	13:00 min	Orchestral	1971
22	Concerto for percussion & wind ensemble	20:30 min	Concerto	1971
23	Apotheosis of This Earth for concert band	26:02 min	Band Music	1971
24	Music for Prague 1968, version for orchestra	23:13 min	Orchestral	1970
25	Concerto for alto saxophone & band	18:01 min	Concerto	1968
26	Music for Prague 1968, for concert band	22:50 min	Band Music	1968
27	String Quartet No. 3	21:11 min	Chamber Music	1968
28	Preludes [2]	9:01 min	Chamber Music	1966
29	Sérénade	14:43 min	Chamber Music	1963
30	Serenade for winds, strings, harp & xylophone	14:38 min	Chamber Music	1963
31	Mosaïques for orchestra	16:01 min	Orchestral	1961
32	Elégie et Rondeau for saxophone & piano (or orchestra)	8:23 min	Chamber Music	1960
33	Divertimento for brass ensemble & percussion	9:39 min	Chamber Music	1958
34	Moravian Songs (12)	15:25 min	Vocal Music	1955
35	String Quartet No. 2	18:16 min	Chamber Music	1953
36	Symphony No. 1	26:36 min	Symphony	1953
37	Evocations of Slovakia, for clarinet, viola & cello	14:27 min	Chamber Music	1951
38	String Quartet No. 1, Op. 8	23:30 min	Chamber Music	1948
39	Three Frescoes, for orchestra, Op. 7	25:16 min	Orchestral	1946
40	Suite for viola & piano, Op. 5	10:36 min	Chamber Music	1945
41	Fantasies (3) for orchestra	19:43 min	Orchestral	1921
42	Monodrama, ballet	24:24 min	Ballet	-
43	Stèle, for solo violin	6:13 min	Chamber Music	-
44	Comments on Reflections (Symphony No. 2) (spoken)	1:07 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
45	Fresque	11:46 min	Orchestral	-
46	Concerto for cello & orchestra	29:45 min	Concerto	-
47	Trojan Women, suite for orchestra	23:54 min	Orchestral	-
48	Pastorale for orchestra	5:35 min	Orchestral	-

Albums featuring Karel Husa

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Karel Husa / Bohuslav Martinů, Anna Paulová – Music For Clarinet(CD, Album, Stereo)	2023	Supraphon
2	Karel Husa, Prague Symphony Orchestra – Karel Husa Prague Symphony Orchestra(2×File, MP3, Album, Reissue, Remastered)	2021	Supraphon
3	Phillip Koplow, Karel Husa, Krzysztof Penderecki, Bohuslav Martinů – For The Peace Of Cities: Works For Orchestra(CD, Compilation)	2019	Ravello Records
4	Kristina Fialová, Igor Ardašev, Martinů, Feld, Kalabis, Husa – Czech Viola Sonatas(CD, Album)	2017	Supraphon
5	Karel Husa, North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon – Karel Husa(2×CD, Compilation)	2012	GIA (2)
6	Turrin, McTee, Husa, Salfelder, Hause, Colgrass, North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon – Encryptions(CD, )	2012	GIA WindWorks
7	Maslanka, Ellerby, Husa, Goto, Milburn, Sierra, North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon – Ciphers(CD, )	2012	GIA WindWorks
8	Ewazen, Cichy, Husa, Maslanka, Philharmonia À Vent Wind Orchestra, John Boyd (4) – Celestial Dancers(CD, )	2010	Klavier Records
9	Schuman • Reed • Husa • Nelhýbel • Rutgers Wind Ensemble • William Berz – Fanfares And Overtures(CD, Album)	2009	Naxos
10	Two Sonnets From Michelangelo, The Trojan Women(CD, Album, Reissue)	2004	First Edition Music
11	Karel Husa, The Ithaca College Wind Ensemble, Rodney Winther – Apotheosis Of This Earth • Music Of Karel Husa	2002	Mark Masters
12	Pragensia(CD, Compilation)	2001	Clarton
13	The Martinů Piano Quartet, Martinů, Kalabis, Husa – Piano Quartets(CD, Album)	2000	ArcoDiva
14	Philharmonia À Vent, John Boyd (4) • Frederick Fennell / Bach • Wagner • Miaskovsky • Brahms • Debussy • Husa – Masterworks For Wind Band(CD, Album)	2000	ELF (5)
15	Lawrence Gwozdz, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic, Kirk Trevor, Steffen Hass , Works By Carl Anton Wirth, Karel Husa, William Grant Still, Warren Benson, John C. Worley – An American Concerto Tribute To Sigurd Raschèr(CD, Album)	1999	Albany Records
16	New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Frank L. Battisti, Bernard Rands, John Harbison, William Kraft, Karel Husa – Works For Wind Ensemble(CD, Album)	1999	Albany Records
17	Bowling Green Philharmonia, Emily Freeman Brown, Don Freund, Chris Theofanidis, Movses Pogossian, Samuel Adler, Jeffrey Ryan (2), Myra Merritt, Karel Husa, Marilyn Shrude – New Music From Bowling Green(CD, Album)	1999	Albany Records
18	Chamber Music(CD, Album)	1998	Panton
19	Karel Husa - Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Des Solistes De Paris – The Trojan Women(CD, Album)	1998	Phoenix (7)
20	Temple University Wind Symphony, Arthur D. Chodoroff, Karel Husa – Temple University Wind Symphony - Chodoroff, Conductor(CD, Album, Stereo)	1997	Albany Records
21	Karel Husa – Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Barry Kolman – Music for Prague 1968 • Reflections (Symphony No. 2) • Fresque	1994	Marco Polo
22	Husa, Weiss, Penderecki, Perron, Van de Vate – Music From Six Continents: 1993 Series(CD, Album)	1994	Vienna Modern Masters
23	Lawrence Gwozdz - Henry Cowell, Karel Husa, John David Lamb, Armand Russell, William Grant Still, Carl Anton Wirth, John C. Worley - Michael Reimer (2), Lois Leventhal, David Evenson – An American Tribute To Sigurd Rascher(CD, Album)	1994	Crystal Records (5)
24	Westwood Wind Quintet With Lisa Bergman, Richard Pressley - Ingolf Dahl, Karel Husa, Jerzy Sapieyevski, Louis Moyse – Untitled(CD, )	1993	Crystal Records (5)
25	The Louisville Orchestra, Lawrence Leighton Smith - Witold Lutoslawski / Karel Husa / Paul Creston – Fanfare For Louisville / Apotheosis Of This Earth / Monodrama / Invocation And Dance(CD, )	1991	First Edition Records
26	Karel Husa / The Fine Arts Quartet, The Long Island Chamber Ensemble, Lawrence Sobol – String Quartets Nos. 2 And 3 • Evocations De Slovaquie(CD, Album)	1990	Phoenix (7)
27	Werner Torkanowsky / Karel Husa - The New England Piano Quartette – Piano Quartet / Variations For Violin, Viola, Violoncello And Piano(LP)	1986	Orion
28	Franz Joseph Haydn / Karel Husa - The Verdehr Trio – Three Trios (Hoboken IV) / Sonata A Tre For Violin, Clarinet, And Piano(LP, Album)	1986	Crystal Records (5)
29	The Alard String Quartet - Karel Husa / Priaulx Rainier – String Quartets (String Quartet No. 1 / Quartet For Strings)(LP)	1983	Leonarda Productions
30	Karel Husa - The Louisville Orchestra, Akira Endo – The Trojan Women(LP, Stereo)	1981	First Edition Records
31	David Pelton, Stephen Martorella, Husa, Webern, Dallapiccola, Vaughan Williams – Songs By Husa, Webern, Dallapiccola And Vaughan Williams(LP, Stereo)	1980	Redwood Records (2)
32	Karel Husa - Michigan State University Wind Symphony & The Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Stanley DeRusha – The Compositions Of Karel Husa(LP, Stereo)	1979	Golden Crest Records, Inc.
33	Herbert Haufrecht, Walter Mourant, Karel Husa – Brass Etcetera(LP, Reissue, Stereo)	1978	Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI)
34	Karel Husa / Pamela Layman - Elmar Oliveira, David Oei (2) – Sonata For Violin & Piano / Gravitation I(LP, Album)	1978	Grenadilla Records
35	The Long Island Chamber Ensemble Of New York, Lawrence Sobol - Husa / Dahl / Diamond – Sonata No. 2 For Piano / Sonata Da Camera For Clarinet & Piano / Vocalises For Soprano & Viola(LP)	1978	Grenadilla Records
36	Samuel Barber, Arthur Berger (2), Elliott Carter, Luciano Berio, Irving Fine, Lukas Foss, Mario Davidovsky, Jacob Druckman, Gunther Schuller & Karel Husa - The Dorian Quintet – The Avant Garde Woodwind Quintet In The U.S.A.(3×LP, Box Set, )	1977	VoxBox
37	Alan Hovhaness / Karel Husa - The Long Island Chamber Ensemble Of New York, Lawrence Sobol – Firdausi For Clarinet, Harp & Percussion, Op. 252 / Evocations De Slovaquie For Clarinet, Viola & Cello	1976	Grenadilla Records
38	Hovhaness / Husa / Straight – Triptych / Mosaïques / Development	1975	Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI)
39	Karel Husa, The University Of Michigan Symphony Band – Apotheosis Of This Earth: Music For Prague 1968(LP, Stereo)	1974	Golden Crest
40	Karel Husa / Matthias Bamert - The Louisville Orchestra, Jorge Mester – Two Sonnets From Michelangelo / "Septuria Lunaris"(LP, Album)	1972	First Edition Records
41	Krzysztof Penderecki / Gene Gutché / Karel Husa - The Louisville Orchestra, Jorge Mester – De Natura Sonoris No. 2 / Genghis Khan, Op. 37 / Music For Prague 1968	1972	First Edition Records
42	Karel Husa - Fine Arts Quartet – Karel Husa Quartets (Nos. 2 And 3)	1971	Everest
43	Hector Berlioz - Cornell Symphony Orchestra, Cornell Brass Ensembles, Cornell University Chorus, Cornell University Glee Club, Karel Husa – La Grande Messe Des Morts(2×LP)	1966	Cornell University
44	Johannes Brahms, Orchestre Des Cento Soli, Karel Husa – Symphonie N°1 En Ut Mineur Opus 68	1957	Le Club Français Du Disque
45	Bela Bartok / Devy Erlih, Orchestre Des Cento Soli Sous La Direction De Karel Husa – Le Mandarin Merveilleux / Première Et Deuxième Rhapsodies Pour Violon Et Orchestre	1956	Le Club Français Du Disque
46	Symphony No. 1 For Orchestra(LP)	-	Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI)
47	Arkansas State University Wind Ensemble, Thomas J. O'Neal, Karel Husa, Theron Waddle – CBDNA 1998(CD, )	-	Mark Records
48	Karel Husa / Michael Mauldin / John Donald Robb – Four Little Pieces / Petroglyph / Elegy(LP, Album)	-	Opus One
49	Karel Husa, Ingolf Dahl, Tim Timmons With The Ithaca Concert Band – Tim Timmons Saxophone With The Ithaca Concert Band(LP, Album, Quadraphonic)	-	Golden Crest
50	Brahms / Orchestre Des Cento Soli Direction: Karel Husa / Orchestre Symphonique Du Gürzenich De Cologne Direction: Günter Wand – Les Quatre Symphonies (Intégrale)(Box Set, , 4×LP, Compilation)	-	Musidisc
51	Symphony No 1 • Serenade • Landscapes • Mosaïques(CD, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Repress)	-	Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI)
52	Karel Husa, Ezra Laderman, Mel Powell, The Colorado Quartet – Untitled(CD, Stereo)	-	Albany Records
53	A Portrait Of Karel Husa(CD, Stereo)	-	Albany Records