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Karel Husa (1921-2016)

Karel Husa composer Karel Husa is an American composer born in Prague.  He studied there with Ř�dk� and in Paris with Boulanger and Honegger (1946-51). Since 1954 he has lived in the USA, teaching at Cornell University and conducting major orchestras. His music is clear in style, often with powerful rhythms and dramatic ostinatos, and sometimes including quarter-tones and serialism; he is a brilliant orchestrator. Most of his works are instrumental; Music for Prague 1968 (1968) and Apotheosis of this Earth (1970) are among the first concert band works to use aleatory procedures and are classics of their kind.
-  Answers.com

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Husa Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Piano Sonatina (1943)
Suite, viola and piano, op.5 (1945)
Violin Sonatina, Op. 6 (1945; arr. for flute and piano, 2003)
Suite, Op. 5, viola and piano (1945)
Quartet No.1 (1948)
Divertimento, string orchestra (1948)
Concertino, piano and orchestra (1949)
Piano Sonata No.1 (1949)
Evocations de Slovaquie, clarinet, viola and cello (1951)
Musique d'Amateurs: quatre pieces faciles, orchestra (1952)
Symphony No. 1 (1953)
Portrait, string orchestra (1953)
Quartet No.2 (1954)
Four Little Pieces, string orchestra (1955)
Festive Ode, mixed or men's chorus and orchestra/band (1955)
Twelve Moravian Songs, voice and piano (1956) [see also "Three Moravian Songs", chorus, 1981]
Elegie, piano (1957)                                                                                                                             ~ top of page ~
Fantasies, orchestra (1957)
Nocturne, orchestra (1957), from Fantasies
Eight Czech Duets, piano 4-hands (1958)
Divertimento, brass and percussion (1958)
Poeme, viola and chamber orchestra (1960)
Elegie et rondeau, alto saxophone and orchestra (1960)
Mosaiques, orchestra (1961)
Fresque, orchestra (revised 1963)
Serenade, wind quintet, percussion, harp and strings (1963)
Concerto for Brass Quintet (1965)
Deux preludes, flute, clarinet and bassoon (1966)
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band (1967)
String Quartet No. 3 (1968) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]
Music for Prague 1968, band or orchestra (1969)
Apotheosis of This Earth, band or orchestra, w/opt. chorus (1970)
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1970-71)
Two Sonnets by Michelangelo, orchestra (1971)
Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra (1973)
Violin Sonata (1973)
Al Fresco, band (1974)
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, ballet or narrator and orchestra (1974)
Divertimento, brass quintet/ensemble with optional percussion (1974)
Divertimento for Symphonic Winds and Percussion  (1974/95)
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1975)
Monodrama, ballet (1976)
An American Te Deum, chorus and band (or orchestra) (1976)
    - Drum Ceremony, 5 percussion (1976) [from "An Americand Te Deum", 1976]
    - There Are From Time To Time Mornings, baritone voice and chorus (1976) [from "An Americand Te Deum", 1976]
Landscapes, brass quintet (1977)
An American Te Deum, chorus and band (or orchestra) (1978)
Pastoral, string orchestra (1979)
Three Dance Sketches, percussion (1979)                                                                                    ~ top of page ~
The Trojan Women, ballet (1980)
Intradas and Interludes, 7 trumpets and percussion (1980)
Fanfare, brass and percussion (1980)
Every Day, chorus (1981)
Three Moravian Songs, chorus (1981) [from "Twelve Moravian Songs", voice and piano, 1956]
Sonata � tre, clarinet, violin and piano (1981)
Concerto for Wind Ensemble (1982)
Recollections, wind quintet and piano (1982)
Cantata, male chorus and brass quintet (1982)
Reflections (Symphony No. 2) (1983)
Symphonic Suite, orchestra (1984)
Variations, piano quartet (1984)
Smetana Fanfare for Wind Ensemble (1984)
Concerto for Orchestra (1986)
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1987)
Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (1987)
Frammenti, organ (1987)
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1988)
Overture,  "Youth", orchestra (1990)
String Quartet No. 4, "Poems" (1990)
Cayuga Lake (Memories), chamber orchestra (1992)
Tubafest Celebration Fanfare, tuba quartet (1992)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1993)
Five Poems, woodwind quintet (1994)
Celebration Fanfare, orchestra (1996)
Midwest Celebration (Fanfare), brass (1996)
Les Couleurs Fauves, band (1996)
Celebraci�n, orchestra (1997)
Postcard from Home, alto saxophone and piano (1997) [arr. of "Twelve Moravian Songs" nos. 8 and 12]
Song (Good Night), chorus (2000)
Cheetah, band (2006)
Three Studies for Solo Clarinet (2007)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Husa Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, ballet or narrator and orchestra (1974)
Monodrama, ballet (1976)
The Trojan Women, ballet (1980)

Orchestra
Divertimento, string orchestra (1948)
Musique d'Amateurs: quatre pieces faciles, orchestra (1952)
Symphony No. 1 (1953)
Portrait, string orchestra (1953)
Four Little Pieces, string orchestra (1955)
Fantasies, orchestra (1957)
Nocturne, orchestra (1957) [from Fantasies]
Mosaiques, orchestra (1961)
Fresque, orchestra (revised 1963)
Serenade, wind quintet, percussion, harp and strings (1963)
Music for Prague 1968, band or orchestra (1969)
Apotheosis of This Earth, band or orchestra, w/opt. chorus (1970)
Two Sonnets by Michelangelo, orchestra (1971)
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, ballet or narrator and orchestra (1974)
Monodrama, orchestra (1976) [from ballet]
Pastoral, string orchestra (1979)
The Trojan Women, scenes from the ballet, orchestra (1980)
Reflections (Symphony No. 2) (1983)
Symphonic Suite, orchestra (1984)
Concerto for Orchestra (1986)
Overture,  "Youth", orchestra (1990)
Cayuga Lake (Memories), chamber orchestra (1992)
Celebration Fanfare, orchestra (1996)
Celebraci�n, orchestra (1997)

Band
Divertimento, brass and percussion (1958)
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band (1967)
Music for Prague 1968, band or orchestra (1969)
Apotheosis of This Earth, band or orchestra, w/opt. chorus (1970)
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1970-71)
Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra (1973)
Al Fresco, band (1974)                                                                                                                       ~ top of page ~
Divertimento for Symphonic Winds and Percussion  (1974/95)
Fanfare, brass and percussion (1980)
Concerto for Wind Ensemble (1982)
Smetana Fanfare for Wind Ensemble (1984)
Midwest Celebration (Fanfare), brass (1996)
Les Couleurs Fauves, band (1996)
Cheetah, band (2006)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra or Band
Concertino, piano and orchestra (1949)
Poeme, viola and chamber orchestra (1960)
Elegie et rondeau, alto saxophone and orchestra (1960)
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Band (1967)
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1970-71)
Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra (1973)
Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1987)
Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (1987)
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1993)

Chorus w/Orchestra or Band
Festive Ode, mixed or men's chorus and orchestra/band (1955)
Apotheosis of This Earth, band or orchestra, w/opt. chorus (1970)
An American Te Deum, chorus and band (or orchestra) (1976)
Cantata, male chorus and brass quintet (1982)

Choral
There Are From Time To Time Mornings, baritone voice and chorus (1976) [from "An Americand Te Deum", 1976]
Every Day, chorus (1981)
Three Moravian Songs, chorus (1981)
    - Sunrise
    - Good night
    - Aspen leaves
Cantata, male chorus and brass quintet (1983)
Song (Good Night), chorus (2000)

Chamber                                                                                                                                              ~ top of page ~
Quartet No.1 (1948)
Evocations de Slovaquie, clarinet, viola and cello (1951)
Quartet No.2 (1954)
Divertimento, brass and percussion (1958)
Concerto for Brass Quintet (1965)
Deux preludes, flute, clarinet and bassoon (1966)
String Quartet No. 3 (1968) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]
Divertimento, brass quintet/ensemble with optional percussion (1974)
Drum Ceremony, 5 percussion (1976) [from "An Americand Te Deum", 1976]
Landscapes, brass quintet (1977)
Three Dance Sketches, percussion (1979)
Intradas and Interludes, 7 trumpets and percussion (1980)
Fanfare, brass and percussion (1980)
Sonata � tre, clarinet, violin and piano (1981)
Recollections, wind quintet and piano (1982)
Variations, piano quartet (1984)
String Quartet No. 4, "Poems" (1990)
Tubafest Celebration Fanfare, tuba quartet (1992)
Five Poems, woodwind quintet (1994)
Midwest Celebration (Fanfare), brass (1996)

Brass
Divertimento, brass and percussion (1958)
Concerto for Brass Quintet (1965)
Divertimento, brass quintet/ensemble with optional percussion (1974)
Landscapes, brass quintet (1977)
Intradas and Interludes, 7 trumpets and percussion (1980)
Fanfare, brass and percussion (1980)
Cantata, male chorus and brass quintet (1982)
Tubafest Celebration Fanfare, tuba quartet (1992)
Midwest Celebration (Fanfare), brass (1996)

Solo Instrument
Suite, viola and piano, op.5 (1945)
Violin Sonatina, Op. 6 (1945; arr. for flute and piano, 2003)
Suite, Op. 5, viola and piano (1945)
Violin Sonata (1973)
Postcard from Home, alto saxophone and piano (1997) [arr. of "Twelve Moravian Songs" nos. 8 and 12]
Three Studies for Solo Clarinet (2007)

Piano/Organ                                                                                                                                        ~ top of page ~
Piano Sonatina (1943)
Piano Sonata No.1 (1949)
Elegie, piano (1957)
Eight Czech Duets, piano 4-hands (1958)
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1975)
Frammenti, organ (1987)

Vocal
Twelve Moravian Songs, voice and piano (1956) [Three Moravian Songs, chorus, 1981]
    - Sunrise
    - Who is that?
    - The deserter
    - Between two mountains
    - When I sing
    - What is wrong?
    - Song for dancing
    - Echo in the mountains
    - The snowball
    - Aspen leaves
    - Lost love
    - Homeland, goodbye
There Are From Time To Time Mornings, baritone voice and chorus (1976)


HUSA LINKS                                                            Works by Genre     ~ top of page ~
A Conversation with Karel Husa (Interview by Banddirector.com)
Karel Husa (Encounters by George Sturm, Music Associates of America)
Karel Husa  (David Whitwell, whitwellessays.com)
Karel Husa returns to the Cornell stage to celebrate his 75th birthday (Darryl Geddes, Cornell Chronicle)
Karel Husa - The Composer in Conversation with Bruce Duffie
Karel Husa: A Bio-Bibliography (Susan Hayes Hitchens, books.google.com)
Karel Husa, a short conversation: A Composer’s Journal Entries (Laurie Conrad, buzzle.com)
Karel Husa: "like raindrops we have dispersed all over the immense world ..." (thefreelibrary.com)
Karel Husa's Music for Prague 1968 (Garth Trinkl, Renaissance Research)

Composer's website @ Czech Music Information Centre

Husa @ Wikipedia
Husa @ Answers.com
Husa @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Husa @ Enduring Masters - Meet the Masters @ Ithaca College
Husa @ Grawemeyer Awards
Husa @ Mules Rasch
Husa @ Music Web International
Husa @ The New York Times
Husa @ E.C. Schirmer Music
Husa @ G. Schirmer
Husa @ Schott Music
Husa @ Sigma Alpha Iota
Husa @ Stanton Management
Husa @ Wind Repertory Project

Publisher
Husa @ E.C. Schirmer Music
Husa @ G. Schirmer
Husa @ Schott Music

Streaming Audio
Husa @ last.fm
Husa @ Rhapsody

Recordings
Husa @ ArkivMusic
Husa @ ClassicsOnline

Video
Husa @ YouTube                                                                                                                                                     ~ top of page ~
Husa @ Google Video
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