Short bio Vitězslav Novak
Birthday:
1870 in Kamenice nad Lipou, Southern Bohemia
Died:
1949 in Skutec, Czech Republic
Active:
1890s - 1930s
Genre:
Classical
Period:
Post-Romantic
Full biography Vitězslav Novak
Vitězslav Novak was a Czech composer who was born in Kamenice nad Lipou on December 5, 1870, and died in Skutec on July 18, 1949. He was a prominent figure in the Czech musical community at the beginning of the 20th century and was a leading exponent of the neo-romantic genre in Czech music.
Novák began his musical studies at the Prague Conservatory in 1888. After completing his studies, he worked as a private teacher while also composing music. In 1902, he became a professor at the Prague Conservatory, where he taught many prominent Czech composers.
His style of composition was influenced by the works of Wagner, Mahler, and Richard Strauss, but he was also inspired by traditional Czech folk music. His best-known compositions are his orchestral works, such as the symphony "In the Tatra Mountains," which is considered one of his masterpieces. Another famous work is the symphonic poem "Toman and the Wood Nymph," which shows Novák's fondness for folk music.
Aside from these orchestral works, Novak also wrote several chamber music pieces, including his Piano Trio, String Quartet No. 1, and Sonata Eroica for Cello and Piano.
Despite being a prolific composer, Novak's reputation suffered during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, and after the war, he was left marginalized. Still, his music remains a significant part of the Czech classical music scene and continues to be performed worldwide.
Compositions featuring Vitězslav Novak
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Wenceslas triptych, for organ, Op. 70 | 30:41 min | Keyboard | 1942 |
| 2 | Sonata for cello & piano, Op. 68 | Chamber Music | 1941 | |
| 3 | South Bohemian Suite (Jihočeská suita), for orchestra, Op. 64 | 36:11 min | Orchestral | 1936 |
| 4 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/12, Lullaby of paradise | 3:03 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 5 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/11, Children's lullaby | 2:27 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 6 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/10, Lullaby to a child that shall never wake again | 2:09 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 7 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/9, From Bezruc country | 1:44 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 8 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/8, A difficult moment | 2:03 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 9 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/7, Lullaby - somewhat restless | 2:59 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 10 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/6, Lullaby - the happiest mother in the world | 1:45 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 11 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/5, In Moravian meadows | 1:25 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 12 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/4, By moonlight | 1:55 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 13 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/3, In Slovakia | 1:43 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 14 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/2, At dusk | 1:54 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 15 | Lullabies (12) for female chorus, Op. 61/1, Pastoral lullaby | 1:52 min | Choral | 1932 |
| 16 | Lucerna (The Lantern), opera, Op. 56 | 125:57 min | Opera | 1923 |
| 17 | Sonatina for piano No. 5 in D minor ("Brigand"), Op. 54/5, Sch 111/5 | 12:31 min | Keyboard | 1919 |
| 18 | Sonatina for piano No. 4 in E minor ("Fairy-Tale"), Op. 54/4, Sch 111/4 | 10:55 min | Keyboard | 1919 |
| 19 | Sonatina for piano No. 3 in F major ("Holiday Time"), Op. 54/3, Sch 111/3 | 9:58 min | Keyboard | 1919 |
| 20 | Sonatina for piano No. 2 in A minor ("From Children's Lives"), Op. 54/2, Sch 111/2 | 11:22 min | Keyboard | 1919 |
| 21 | Sonatina for piano No. 1 in C major ("Spring"), Op. 54/1, Sch 111/1 | 8:45 min | Keyboard | 1919 |
| 22 | Sonatina for piano No. 6 in C major ("Christmas"), Op. 54/6, Sch 111/6 | 10:07 min | Keyboard | 1919 |
| 23 | Erotikon, for voice & piano, Op.46 | Vocal Music | 1912 | |
| 24 | The Storm, sea fantasy for soloists, male chorus & orchestra, Op 42 | 72:25 min | Choral | 1910 |
| 25 | Pan, tone poem for piano, Op. 43 | 56:01 min | Keyboard | 1910 |
| 26 | Wallachian Dances (2) for orchestra, Op. 34 | 12:23 min | Orchestral | 1906 |
| 27 | Slovak Suite, for piano, Op. 32 | 26:40 min | Keyboard | 1903 |
| 28 | Sonata eroica, for piano, Op. 24, Sch 68 | 24:50 min | Keyboard | 1900 |
| 29 | Ballads (2) on Moravian Folk Poetry, for chorus & piano, 4 hands, Op. 23 | 14:38 min | Choral | 1900 |
| 30 | Bagatelles, for piano, Op. 5, Sch 63 | 7:29 min | Keyboard | 1899 |
| 31 | My May, for piano, Op. 20, Sch 61 | 10:07 min | Keyboard | 1899 |
| 32 | Ballads (2) on Words from Moravian Folk Poetry, for chorus & orchestra, Op 19 | 9:36 min | Choral | 1898 |
| 33 | Valachian Dance, for piano, Op. 34/2 | 6:14 min | Keyboard | 1897 |
| 34 | Cigánské melodie (Gypsy melodies), for voice & piano, Op. 14 | 6:44 min | Vocal Music | 1897 |
| 35 | At Dusk, for piano, Op. 13 | 10:23 min | Keyboard | 1896 |
| 36 | Piano Concerto in E minor | 27:06 min | Concerto | 1895 |
| 37 | Piano quartet in C minor, Op. 7 | 22:03 min | Chamber Music | 1894 |
| 38 | Overture Korsár in F minor | 14:18 min | Orchestral | 1892 |
| 39 | Sonata for violin & piano in D minor | Chamber Music | - | |
| 40 | Serenade in D major for small orchestra, Op.36 | 26:12 min | Orchestral | - |
| 41 | Serenade in F major for Small Orchestra | 37:32 min | Orchestral | - |
| 42 | Serenades, for piano, Op. 9 | 10:28 min | Keyboard | - |
| 43 | Signorina Gioventu, ballet, Op 58 | 51:32 min | Ballet | - |
| 44 | Youth, for piano, Op. 55 | 39:55 min | Keyboard | - |
| 45 | String quartet No 2 in D major, Op 35 | 30:16 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 46 | V Tatrách, symphonic poem for orchestra, Op 26 | 16:51 min | Orchestral | - |
| 47 | Uz viac panenkou nebudem (No Longer Shall I be a Maiden), folksong arrangement | 1:56 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 48 | Tynom tanom, folksong arrangement | 0:55 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 49 | Toman and the Wood Nymph, for orchestra, Op. 40 | 25:49 min | Orchestral | - |
| 50 | Tancovala a neznala (On she danced, but had forgotten), folksong arrangement | 1:09 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 51 | Svic mila mas komu (Light the Lamp My Love), folksong arrangement | 1:38 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 52 | Songs (4) of Winter Nights, for piano, Op. 30 | 17:16 min | Keyboard | - |
| 53 | South Bohemian Motives, songs (5) for soprano & orchestra, Op. 77 | 19:33 min | Orchestral | - |
| 54 | Memories (3), for piano, Op 6 | 15:50 min | Keyboard | - |
| 55 | Chodzila Mariska (Mariska's Walking Home), folksong arrangement | 3:12 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 56 | De Profundis, symphonic poem for large orchestra & organ, Op. 67 | 22:39 min | Orchestral | - |
| 57 | Dolina dolina (Valley, My Valley), folksong arrangement | 0:55 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 58 | Ej duby duby (Oh, You Oak Tree), folksong arrangement | 1:28 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 59 | Eternal Longing (O Vecné Touze), symphonic poem for orchestra, Op. 33 | 20:17 min | Orchestral | - |
| 60 | Karlstejn, opera | Opera | - | |
| 61 | Ked uz uderila dvanasta hodina (When the Hour of Midnight has already Struck), folksong arrangement | 2:16 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 62 | Lady Godiva Overture, Op. 41 | 16:29 min | Orchestral | - |
| 63 | Limbora limbora (Hazel Tree, Hazel Tree), folksong arrangement | 2:30 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 64 | Mariska Mariska, folksong arrangement | 1:06 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 65 | Melancholic Songs of Love, Op. 38: No. 1, Love came into the World | 5:27 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 66 | Melancholic Songs of Love, Op. 38: No. 2, Love is Like a Star | 2:13 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 67 | Melancholic Songs of Love, Op. 38: No. 3, When Flies Love Hither? | 2:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 68 | Melancholic Songs of Love, Op. 38: No. 4, O, Bottomless Sea of Love | 3:40 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 69 | Sedla mucha (A Fly Sat on a Cornflower) | 1:49 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 70 | Moravian-Slovak Suite, for small orchestra, Op 32 | 28:50 min | Orchestral | - |
| 71 | My May, Op. 20 | 9:39 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 72 | Nevydavaj sa ty (Don't Give Yourself Away), folksong arrangement | 1:36 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 73 | Nocturnes (8), for voice & orchestra, Op. 39 | 29:25 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 74 | Overture Marysa, Op 18 (After the drama by Alois and Wilhelm Mrstik) | 11:27 min | Orchestral | - |
| 75 | Pan, for piano, Op. 43 | 54:51 min | Keyboard | - |
| 76 | Pan, symphonic poem for orchestra, Op. 43 | 54:15 min | Orchestral | - |
| 77 | Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 27 ("Quasi una ballata") | 17:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 78 | Pohádka srdce (Fairytale of the Heart), for voice & piano, Op. 8 | 11:06 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 79 | Prelecel sokol (A Falcon Flew By), folksong arrangement | 2:27 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 80 | Prelude on a Moravian Song, for organ | Keyboard | - | |
| 81 | Prelude on the Love Song from Valassko, for organ | 3:49 min | Keyboard | - |
| 82 | Quintet for piano & strings in A minor, Op 12 | 24:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
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