Ján Cikker (29 July 1911 – 21 December 1989) was a Slovak composer, a leading exponent of modern Slovak classical music. He was awarded the title National Artist in Slovakia, the Herder Prize (1966) and the IMC-UNESCO International Music Prize (1979).
Banská Bystrica, memorial table at the native house of Jan Cikker
Cikker was born in former Austria-Hungary, today Slovakia, in Banská Bystrica. His first music teachers were his mother, Mária Psotková, and Viliam Figuš-Bystrý. After he graduated from high school, he studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1930 to 1935, where he attended courses of composition of Jaroslav Křička, of conducting and organ. He then studied at the Master's School of the Prague Conservatory from 1935 to 1936, where he was a student of Vítězslav Novák. Later on, he moved to Vienna, where he studied with Felix Weingartner from 1936-1937.
From 1939 to 1949, he taught at the Bratislava Conservatory. At the same time he was a repertory advisor of the opera of the Slovak National Theatre from 1945 to 1948. He was forced to leave this post after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948.[1] Finally, he worked as professor for composition at the Bratislava Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (VŠMÚ), where he was the teacher of many Slovak composers. He died in Bratislava, where a museum in his name has opened.
Characteristicsedit
His pronounced style is characterized by a typical richness of contrasting moods and characters (dance, expressive, lyrical pronunciation), and by the emphasis on humane and ethical conduct. His first creative works were nearly always instrumental, but from the 1950s onward he increasingly devoted himself to composing operas.
Major worksedit
cycle of symphonic poemsO živote – Leto, Vojak a matka, Ráno (About life – Summer, Soldier and Mother, Morning; 1941-1946)
operas:
Juro Jánošík (1950-1953, libretto by Štefan Hoza),
Antigona (1987–89, unfinished; after Sophocles' play)
chamber and orchestral pieces:
String quartet no. 1 op. 13 (1935)
String quartet no. 2 op. 14 (1936)
Spring Symphony (1937)
Symfonietta Op.16 (1937, dedicated to his teacher Jaroslav Křička)
Concertino for piano and orchestra Op.20 (1942)
Slovenská suita (1943; Slovak suite)
Spomienky (1947; Memories)
Meditácie na Schützovu tému (1964; Meditations on a theme by Schütz)
Štúdie k činohre (1944; Studies for a theatre play, referred sometimes as “Fyzici”)
choral works
Óda na radosť (1982, Ode to Joy; oratorio for speaker, soloists, choir and orchestra on words by Milan Rúfus. Written for the bicentennial of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig).
piano music: Sonatina op. 12, no. 1 (1933), Tatra brooks (1954), Piano Variations on a Slovak Folksong (1973)
song cycle: O mamičke (1940; About Dear Mum)
adaptations of folk songs
theatre and film music (Varúj!)
music for folk dance groups, e.g. for SĽUK (Slovak Folk Art Collective), Lúčnica and VÚS.
ján, cikker, july, 1911, december, 1989, slovak, composer, leading, exponent, modern, slovak, classical, music, awarded, title, national, artist, slovakia, herder, prize, 1966, unesco, international, music, prize, 1979, banská, bystrica, memorial, table, nativ. Jan Cikker 29 July 1911 21 December 1989 was a Slovak composer a leading exponent of modern Slovak classical music He was awarded the title National Artist in Slovakia the Herder Prize 1966 and the IMC UNESCO International Music Prize 1979 Banska Bystrica memorial table at the native house of Jan Cikker Contents 1 Life 2 Characteristics 3 Major works 4 Sources 5 ReferencesLife editCikker was born in former Austria Hungary today Slovakia in Banska Bystrica His first music teachers were his mother Maria Psotkova and Viliam Figus Bystry After he graduated from high school he studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1930 to 1935 where he attended courses of composition of Jaroslav Kricka of conducting and organ He then studied at the Master s School of the Prague Conservatory from 1935 to 1936 where he was a student of Vitezslav Novak Later on he moved to Vienna where he studied with Felix Weingartner from 1936 1937 From 1939 to 1949 he taught at the Bratislava Conservatory At the same time he was a repertory advisor of the opera of the Slovak National Theatre from 1945 to 1948 He was forced to leave this post after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948 1 Finally he worked as professor for composition at the Bratislava Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts VSMU where he was the teacher of many Slovak composers He died in Bratislava where a museum in his name has opened Characteristics editHis pronounced style is characterized by a typical richness of contrasting moods and characters dance expressive lyrical pronunciation and by the emphasis on humane and ethical conduct His first creative works were nearly always instrumental but from the 1950s onward he increasingly devoted himself to composing operas Major works editcycle of symphonic poems O zivote Leto Vojak a matka Rano About life Summer Soldier and Mother Morning 1941 1946 operas Juro Janosik 1950 1953 libretto by Stefan Hoza Beg Bajazid 1955 1956 libretto by Stefan Hoza Mister Scrooge 1958 1959 alternative name Tiene Shadows after Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Vzkriesenie 1960 Resurrection after Tolstoy s novel Hra o laske a smrti Play of Love and Death after Romain Rolland Coriolanus 1970 72 after Shakespeare s play Obliehanie Bystrice 1969 1971 The Siege of Bystrica after Kalman Mikszath Zo zivota hmyzu 1983 86 after Karel Capek s and Josef Capek s play Pictures from the Insects Life Antigona 1987 89 unfinished after Sophocles play chamber and orchestral pieces String quartet no 1 op 13 1935 String quartet no 2 op 14 1936 Spring Symphony 1937 Symfonietta Op 16 1937 dedicated to his teacher Jaroslav Kricka Concertino for piano and orchestra Op 20 1942 Slovenska suita 1943 Slovak suite Spomienky 1947 Memories Meditacie na Schutzovu temu 1964 Meditations on a theme by Schutz Studie k cinohre 1944 Studies for a theatre play referred sometimes as Fyzici choral works oda na radost 1982 Ode to Joy oratorio for speaker soloists choir and orchestra on words by Milan Rufus Written for the bicentennial of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig piano music Sonatina op 12 no 1 1933 Tatra brooks 1954 Piano Variations on a Slovak Folksong 1973 song cycle O mamicke 1940 About Dear Mum adaptations of folk songs theatre and film music Varuj music for folk dance groups e g for SĽUK Slovak Folk Art Collective Lucnica and VUS Sources editOxford Music Online Cikker JanReferences edit Oxford Music Online Cikker Jan Portals nbsp Classical music nbsp Opera nbsp Slovakia nbsp Biography nbsp Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jan Cikker amp oldid 1218214245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
