Concerto idillico for Tuba and Orchestra / piano score - Otomar Kvěch
Otomar Kvěch (born 1950) studied composition and organ at Prague conservatory and the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. In his youth, he received many awards from composers’ competitions both in Czechoslovakia and abroad. In early 1970s he was shortly influenced by so called New music, especially with so called “Polish school”.
However, later he denounced its stylistic principles, saying: “I had the feeling that I did not compose sincerely and that I let myself being influenced by some things only not to look old-fashioned. I deeply thought about the roots of European music and how it developed. I got the feeling that the compositions so praised at that time, which were built only on timbre while the melodic part, recognizable harmonic development and obvious structure were missing, are against the effort of whole generations of composers. I knew that my point of view could have been easily described as conservative. However, I want to move on when I accomplish something. I want to develop music in a way that Brahms built on Beethoven, Schumann and other predecessors of his; in a way Shostakovich built upon Russian classics and Mahler etc. The way of the avant-gardists seems to be more and more distant to me. The nods of approval of many of my colleagues - especially interprets - encourage me.”
The work of Otomar Kvěch includes 5 symphonies, other orchestral compositions, 9 string quartets, 6 organ sonatas and a series of other chamber and vocal compositions. His music was performed not only in the Czech Republic, but also in many other countries: Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, the USA, Australia, Israel, Algeria, Vietnam etc.
“In spring 2016, Jan Adamec, a gentle student who studied tuba at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, asked me to write a concerto for a special concert occasion. I didn’t know how to begin for a long time. I only knew that I wanted to write a composition that would be capable of finding a wider use. Eventually this three-movement Concerto idillico for Tuba and Orchestra originated. The premiere featuring Jan Adamec took place in the Spanish hall of the Prague castle on December 3, 2016. Czech virtuosi orchestra was conducted by Ondřej Vrabec.”
Other compositions by Otomar Kvěch published in Czech Radio:
Cassandra and the Trojan Horse
Expiatio
Storm and Peace, melodrama based on Ema Destinnová´s poetry