Otakar Jeremiáš

composer (1892–1962)

Otakar Jeremiáš is a representative of the traditional branch of Czech music drawing on the legacy of the 19th century composers.

He entered the Prague Conservatory in 1907 to study organ with Josef Klička and musical theory and composition with Karel Stecker. In 1909 and 10 he continued his composition studies privately with Vítězslav Novák, and he also took violoncello lessons with Jan Burian.

Later on, he became a violoncellist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the pianist of the Prague Trio. In 1929 he contributed considerably to the establishment of the Czech Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and was appointed chief conductor of the ensemble.

As a conductor and dramatic adviser he worked for the Radio Orchestra until 1945, when he became a conductor at the National Theatre. In 1943 he published two books on music education: Practical Guidelines for Symphonic Orchestra Instrumentation (Praktické pokyny k instrumentaci symfonického orchestru) and Practical Guidelines for Conducting (Praktické pokyny k dirigování). He co-founded O. Ostrčil's and Z. Fibich's Societies, presided the Contemporary Music Association, and was a member of the Club of Orchestral Artists.

He composed mainly large orchestral scores that often included vocal parts, as exemplified by The Gipsy's Fiddle (Cigánovy housle) for solo voices, men's choir and orchestra (1908), the Spring Overture (Jarní ouvertura), op. 9 (1912), Fantasia for grand orchestra and two mixed choirs, op. 12 (1915), and many other compositions.

His legacy also includes several songs, choral pieces, incidental and film music and melodramas. Among Jeremiáš's notable compositions belongs his opera The Karamazov Brothers (1928) that met with substantial success at the National Theatre. He also applied himself to instrumentations of works by both Czech and foreign composers.

Titles for hire:

10 zpěvů pro žen.sbor
Aby nás Bůh miloval
Balada horská
Bratři Karamazovi
Cavatina
Cigánovy housle
Čertova stěna - předehra
Čertova stěna -fantazie
České národní písně
Československá hymna 1, 2, 3
Československé lid. Písně -2
Československé písně 2
Český chorál
Dětství Ježíšovo
Dva zpěvy
Fantasie pro 2 SBS
Hymna československá pastorální
Hymna španělská
Chodské tance/Do kolečka
Chodské tance/Manžestr
Chodské tance/Sedlák
Chodské tance/sousedská
Chorál k 28. říjnu 1933
Chvíle slávy jsem měl
Jarní předehra
Jen dál
Kdos dobrý vojín
Koncert pro violoncello a orchestr
Láska
Macbeth
Macbeth a čarodejnice
Menuetti 1 - 5
Mistr Jan Hus
Mohamedův zpěv
Moravské a slovácké písně
Narodil se Kristus Pán
O mens exilharata
Oberon
Ostrava
Písně a tance smrti
Písně jara
Písně podzimu
Raport melodram
Romance o Karlu IV.
Směs národních písní 3
Směs národních písní pro děti
Sny
Spící jezulátko
Symfonie č. 1
Symfonie č. 6
Tajemství -fantazie z opery
Úryvek hudby k filmu Zborov
V dětské světničce
Vlčí stopa

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