Theodor Schaefer (23 January 1904, in
Telč – 19 March 1969, in
Brno) was a
Czech composer and pedagogue.
Life
Theodor Schaefer was born in Telč on 23 January 1904. During 1922–1926, he studied composition with
Jaroslav Kvapil and conducting with
František Neumann at the Brno Conservatory. He continued his music education at the Prague Conservatory where he studied composition under
Vítězslav Novák (1926–1929). During 1930–1934, he taught at the Municipal Music School in Kutná Hora. In 1934, Schaefer moved to Brno where he taught composition and music theory, first at the private music school of
Václav Kaprál (1934–1940) and later at the Brno Conservatory (1940–1959). In 1959, Schaefer became a professor of composition at the
Janáček Academy of Music in Brno. For several years he also conducted
Brněnské orchestrální sdružení and
Brno Radiojournal Ensemble. During 1960s he served as chair of the
Union of Czechoslovak Composers (Brno branch) and was instrumental in founding the
Brno International Music Festival. Theodor Schaefer died on 19 March 1969 in Brno.[1]
Selected works
Stage
Švanda dudák (Švanda the Bagpiper), Children's Opera (1925); libretto by F. Tomek
Honza dobrák, Children's Opera (1923); libretto by F. Tomek
Mauglí (Mowgli), Incidental Music to the play by
Rudyard Kipling for piano (1932)
Legenda o štěstí (Legend of Happiness), Ballet, Op. 23 (1950–1953)
Orchestral
Tři české tance ve starém slohu (3 Czech Dances in Olden Style) (1930)
Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 10 (1937–1943)
Sinfonia pastorale concertante alla maniera di stile classico for flute, oboe, bassoon and chamber orchestra, Op.23a (1954); from the ballet Legenda o štěstí
Diathema for viola and orchestra, Op. 24 (1955–1956)
Barbar a růže (The Barbarian and the Rose) for piano and orchestra, Op. 27 (1958–1959)
Glosae instrumentale for 2 pianos and chamber ensemble, Op. 32 (1965); unfinished
Chamber music
String Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 2 (1929)
Suita pro hoboj a klavír (Suite for oboe and piano) (1929–1930)
Violin Concerto for violin and piano, Op. 4 (1933)
Wind Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, Op. 5 (1934–1935)
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 16 (1940–1941)
Slavnostní fanfáry (Brněnská konzervatoř) (Festive Fanfares for
Brno Conservatory) (1943)
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 21 (1944–1945)
Divertimento mesto, Octet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola and cello, Op. 22 (1946–1947)
Cigánovy housle (The Gyspy's Violin) for violin and piano, Op. 29 (1960–1961)
Fanfáry pro Janáčkovu akademii múzických umění v Brně (Fanfares for the
Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno) for 4 trumpets, 3 trombones and tuba, Op. 30 (1961)
Piano
Sonatina, Op. 6 (1935–1936)
Romantické skladby (Romantic Pieces); 6 Pieces, Op. 7 (1936)
Klavírní etudy (Etudes for Piano), Suite in 5 movements, Op. 8 (1936–1937)
Klavírní etudy (Etudes for Piano), 2 Dances, Op. 11 (1937–1938)
Index, 16 Pieces in 2 books, Op. 13 (1938)
Elegie za Zdeničku (Elegy for Zdenička), Suite in 5 movements, Op. 20 (1944)
Jaro přichází (Spring Is Coming), 3 Songs for female voice and piano, Op. 1 (1925); words by M. Kaulfusová,
Josef Václav Sládek and A. Nováková
Podivný svět (Strange World), Cycle of 5 songs for tenor and piano (1925–1926); words by A. Kraus and M. Kaulfusová
Ukolébavka (Lullaby) for voice and piano (1931); words by L. Beková
Julie aneb Snář (Julie, or The Dream), Melodrama in 3 acts for soloists, chamber orchestra, jazz instruments and piano (1933–1934); words by
Georges Neveux in Czech translation by
Jindřich Hořejší
Milostné balady (Love Ballads), 5 Songs for female voice and piano, Op. 18 (1943)
Bithematicon, 4 Songs for baritone and piano, Op. 31 (1967)
Theodor Schaefer (23 January 1904, in
Telč – 19 March 1969, in
Brno) was a
Czech composer and pedagogue.
Life
Theodor Schaefer was born in Telč on 23 January 1904. During 1922–1926, he studied composition with
Jaroslav Kvapil and conducting with
František Neumann at the Brno Conservatory. He continued his music education at the Prague Conservatory where he studied composition under
Vítězslav Novák (1926–1929). During 1930–1934, he taught at the Municipal Music School in Kutná Hora. In 1934, Schaefer moved to Brno where he taught composition and music theory, first at the private music school of
Václav Kaprál (1934–1940) and later at the Brno Conservatory (1940–1959). In 1959, Schaefer became a professor of composition at the
Janáček Academy of Music in Brno. For several years he also conducted
Brněnské orchestrální sdružení and
Brno Radiojournal Ensemble. During 1960s he served as chair of the
Union of Czechoslovak Composers (Brno branch) and was instrumental in founding the
Brno International Music Festival. Theodor Schaefer died on 19 March 1969 in Brno.[1]
Selected works
Stage
Švanda dudák (Švanda the Bagpiper), Children's Opera (1925); libretto by F. Tomek
Honza dobrák, Children's Opera (1923); libretto by F. Tomek
Mauglí (Mowgli), Incidental Music to the play by
Rudyard Kipling for piano (1932)
Legenda o štěstí (Legend of Happiness), Ballet, Op. 23 (1950–1953)
Orchestral
Tři české tance ve starém slohu (3 Czech Dances in Olden Style) (1930)
Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 10 (1937–1943)
Sinfonia pastorale concertante alla maniera di stile classico for flute, oboe, bassoon and chamber orchestra, Op.23a (1954); from the ballet Legenda o štěstí
Diathema for viola and orchestra, Op. 24 (1955–1956)
Barbar a růže (The Barbarian and the Rose) for piano and orchestra, Op. 27 (1958–1959)
Glosae instrumentale for 2 pianos and chamber ensemble, Op. 32 (1965); unfinished
Chamber music
String Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 2 (1929)
Suita pro hoboj a klavír (Suite for oboe and piano) (1929–1930)
Violin Concerto for violin and piano, Op. 4 (1933)
Wind Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, Op. 5 (1934–1935)
String Quartet No. 2, Op. 16 (1940–1941)
Slavnostní fanfáry (Brněnská konzervatoř) (Festive Fanfares for
Brno Conservatory) (1943)
String Quartet No. 3, Op. 21 (1944–1945)
Divertimento mesto, Octet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, viola and cello, Op. 22 (1946–1947)
Cigánovy housle (The Gyspy's Violin) for violin and piano, Op. 29 (1960–1961)
Fanfáry pro Janáčkovu akademii múzických umění v Brně (Fanfares for the
Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno) for 4 trumpets, 3 trombones and tuba, Op. 30 (1961)
Piano
Sonatina, Op. 6 (1935–1936)
Romantické skladby (Romantic Pieces); 6 Pieces, Op. 7 (1936)
Klavírní etudy (Etudes for Piano), Suite in 5 movements, Op. 8 (1936–1937)
Klavírní etudy (Etudes for Piano), 2 Dances, Op. 11 (1937–1938)
Index, 16 Pieces in 2 books, Op. 13 (1938)
Elegie za Zdeničku (Elegy for Zdenička), Suite in 5 movements, Op. 20 (1944)
Jaro přichází (Spring Is Coming), 3 Songs for female voice and piano, Op. 1 (1925); words by M. Kaulfusová,
Josef Václav Sládek and A. Nováková
Podivný svět (Strange World), Cycle of 5 songs for tenor and piano (1925–1926); words by A. Kraus and M. Kaulfusová
Ukolébavka (Lullaby) for voice and piano (1931); words by L. Beková
Julie aneb Snář (Julie, or The Dream), Melodrama in 3 acts for soloists, chamber orchestra, jazz instruments and piano (1933–1934); words by
Georges Neveux in Czech translation by
Jindřich Hořejší
Milostné balady (Love Ballads), 5 Songs for female voice and piano, Op. 18 (1943)
Bithematicon, 4 Songs for baritone and piano, Op. 31 (1967)