Annual American Composers Update
Karel Husa
Czech Masaryk University presented SAI National Arts Associate
Karel Husa with an honorary doctor of arts degree, his
eighth honorary degree, at Ithaca College. President Zlatuska
and Dean Bek made the presentation. The composer's
Evocations
of Slovakia performed by the Ithaca Trio concluded
the ceremony on May 12. On May 3, 2000, Hartwick College
devoted a concert to Husa's compositions, including
Eight
Czech Duets, Sonata No. 2 for Piano, Elegie et Rondeau,
Song, Variations, and
Festive Ode.
Premieres
String Quartet (1942-43) was presented Feb. 23,
2000, with the Apollon Quartet at the Lichtenstein Palace,
in Prague, The Czech Republic. On May 3, 2000,
Song
("Good Night") for SATB choir, received its first
performance, with the Hartwick College Choir in Oneonta,
NY.
Symphony No. 1 had its Czech premiere Oct.l8,
2000, with the Prague Symphony, J. Belohlavek, conducting,
in Prague.
Performances
Fresque for Orchestra was part of the Czech Philharmonic
cycle, Czech Orchestral Music, in Prague, Mar. 9. In 2000,
Music for Prague 1968 was heard in many places
including the MENC National Convention in Washington,
DC, guest-conducted by the composer, Mar. 11; the Syracuse
Symphony Orchestra (the orchestral version) under the
baton of Kazuioshi Akiyama (Mar.); Duquesne University;
Cleveland Institute of Music; Ohio State, Oklahoma State,
Caregie-Mellon, and Montclair Universities; Ithaca College;
Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory; and Naperville High School.
Portrait for String Orchestra, a musical portrait
of Husa's teacher Arthur Honegger, was performed by Thomas
Jefferson High School students, H. Cheilek, Conductor,
at the MENC Convention and also at the Kennedy Center
in Washington, D.C. The U. S. Marine Band played
Les
Couleurs Fauves at George Mason University on May
14.
Eight Czech Duets for Piano Four-Hands had
performances at Indiana and Syracuse Universities; Lemoyne,
Hamilton, and Hartwick Colleges; and in Daytona Beach.
Publications
Song ("Good Night"); SATB choir;
Festive Ode;
SATB choir with orchestra or band; both by AMP/
G.
Schirmer.
Recordings
Apotheosis of this Earth and
Concertino for
Piano and Winds; Mark Records.
Celebraci-n,
for orchestra; Orquesta de Galicia (Spain); limited edition.
Further Information
