Svatopluk Havelka

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The czech composer Svatopluk Havelka was born at Vrbice in the Karvina district on 2nd May 1925. He studied composition privately with K.B.Jirak from 1945-47, while a student of musicology at the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University under Josef Hutter and Antonin Sychra. Havelka subsequently became a member of the music department of Czechoslovak Radio in Ostrava. At the same time he was the founder and artistic director of the NOTA Ensemble (1949 - 1950). For the next four years he was an instructor and composer with the Army Art Ensemble. Since 1954 he was devoted himself to a career as a professional composer.

[edit] Selected list of works

  • The Rose of Wounds. Songs for a middle voice and piano(also for orchestra) to texts by Baroque poets, 1944, CHF, o PA 8'
  • Night Music for orchestra, 1944, manuscript 20'
  • Suite for Small Orchestra , 1947, manuscript 16'
  • Symphony No. 1, 1956, SU, o Su 42'
  • Four Music-dramatic Suites to texts of Moravian folk poetry for solo voice, chamber ensemble, reciter, voiceband and chamber orchestra - 1948, 1949, 1951 - manuscript each 30'
  • Spring. Vocal Rhapsody for three solo voices, mixed and children's choir, large orchestra, 1949 - CHF 25'
  • In Praise of Light. Cantata for soprano, alto, bass, mixed choir and large orchestra to words from S.K. Neumann's Sonata of Horizontal Life - 1959, P o Su 50'
  • Heptameron. A poem on nature and love for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, reciter and orchestra - 1964, PA, o Su 45'
  • Foam. A Symphonic Poem on the poem of the same title by Hans Magnus Enzensberger - 1965 - PA, o Su 12'
  • Ernesto Che Guevara. Symphonic Picture - 1969, P,CHF 14' o P
  • Pyrrhos. Symphony- ballet, 1970, Su 28'
  • Hommage a Hieronymus Bosch. Symphonic Fantasy for orchestra - 1974,P o P 12'
  • Nonet 1976, ESu, o Su 20'
  • Percussionata. A Suite for percussion instruments, 1978, ESu, o Su 20'
  • Children's Suite for orchestra, 1982 (from the film music " Johnnie's Journey")
  • CHF 23'
  • Poggii Florentini an Leonardum Arentinum epistola de M.Hieronymi de Praga supplicio (Epistle of Poggio Bracciolini to Leonardo Bruni of Arrezo on the Condemmnation of Master Jeronym of Prague). Oratorio for 4 soli (S,A,T,B), children's choir, madrigal choir, mixed choir, large symphony orchestra and organ - 1984, P, o P, CD P 68'
  • Quiet Joy. Composition for solo viola, 1985, CHF 17'
  • Disegno. Composition for solo flute, 1986, CHF 14'
  • Homage to Fra Angelica for Guitar, 1987, o P 11'
  • Profeteia. Composition for children's choir, orchestra and organ (ad lib.) to Biblical texts - 1988, CD P 24'
  • Soliloquia abimae ad Deum ( Dialogues between the Soul and the Lord) for clarinet and piano - 1991, 27' o CD P
  • The Hidden Manna and a White Stone. For two percussion players - 1992 13' CD P
  • Pareneze for soprano, piano and 2 percussionists, 1993, CD PA 24'
  • ....with sounding cymbals (Psalm 150) . For percussion solo - 1994 CD P 17'
  • The Signs of the Times . For the Symphonic Orchestra. Written for the 100st anniversary of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (1996) 27'