Josef Bohuslav Foerster (30 December 1859 – 29 May 1951) was a Czech composer and musicologist. He is often referred to as J. B. Foerster, and his surname is sometimes spelled Förster.
Foerster was born in Prague. His ancestors were of Bohemian German ethnicity, but had assimilated into the Czech community. The family normally lived in Prague and was musical. His father, a composer also named Josef Foerster, taught at the Conservatory. (His father's students included Franz Lehár.[1]) His brother was artist Viktor Foerster. Josef was educated accordingly, and duly studied there. He also showed an early interest in the theatre, and thought of becoming an actor. He taught music; one of his early students was composer and Stuttgart court pianist Anna Sick.[2] From 1884 Foerster worked as a critic, and he would prove to be a writer of distinction. In 1893 he married the leading Czech soprano Berta Lautererová (Bertha Lauterer) in Hamburg, during ten years making his living there as a critic, and she was engaged at the Hamburg Staatsoper. In 1901 he became a teacher at the Hamburg Conservatory. In 1903 Berta went to sing at the Vienna Hofoper, and so Josef moved there with her, continuing to make a living as a music critic. He returned to Prague on the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, thereafter teaching at the conservatory and the university.
In 1946 he was declared a National Composer. He died in Nový Vestec.
Styleedit
Foerster produced numerous compositions. His music is not nationalistic in the sense of employing the idioms of Czech folk music. His work, words and music, is considered[by whom?] very subjective and personal, mystical and idealistic.
His compositions include five symphonies (No. 1 in D minor; No. 2 in F, Op. 29 (1892–98);[4] No. 3 in D, Op. 36;[4] No. 4 in C minor, Op. 54, "Easter Eve" (1905); and No. 5 in D minor, Op. 141 (1929) [4]), other orchestral works including a symphonic poem based on Cyrano de Bergerac, much chamber music (including five string quartets (No. 1 in E, Op. 15; No. 2, Op. 39;[5] No. 3 in C, Op. 61; No. 4 in F, Op. 182 (1943); and the last, written 1950–1, completed by Jan Hanuš[6][7]); three piano trios, two violin and two cello sonatas, and a several-times-recorded wind quintet), at least five operas (notably Eva), concertos for cello (Op. 143) and two for violin (No. 1 in C minor, Op. 88 (1911);[6] No. 2 in D minor, Op. 104), liturgical music, among other works, over 170 published opus numbers in all.
Many of his works remember family members: the 2nd Symphony is dedicated to his sister Marie; his brother's death led to the cantata Mortuis fratribus; his son is commemorated in the Piano Trio and the 5th Symphony; and his mother is a theme throughout his oeuvre.
^Greene, David Mason (1985). Greene's Biographical Encyclopedia of Composers. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. p. 979. ISBN0-385-14278-1. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
^Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). ISBN978-0-9617485-2-4.
^Tyrrell, John (1994). "7: Russian, Czech, Polish and Hungarian Opera to 1900". In Roger Parker (ed.). The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera. London; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 278. ISBN0-19-285445-3. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
^ abcdefg. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
^"British Library Integrated Catalogue". Retrieved 16 September 2007.
^ abcdefghijkl. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
^ abcdefg"Library of Congress OPAC". Retrieved 16 September 2007.
^. Koninklijke Bibliotheek, National Library of the Netherlands. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
^"Josef Bohuslav Foerster: String Quartet No.1 E Major, Op.15". Edition Silvertrust. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^"Hofmeisters Monatsberichte". March 1905. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
Susanne Dammann, "Ein Utopist in der Musik. Problemgeschichtliche Beobachtungen zu Josef Bohuslav Foersters 3. Symphonie op. 36", in: Mitteilungen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für mittel- und osteuropäische Musikgeschichte Heft 13, S. 182–200.
External linksedit
Radio Prague Life of Foerster, with RealAudio examples
josef, bohuslav, foerster, december, 1859, 1951, czech, composer, musicologist, often, referred, foerster, surname, sometimes, spelled, förster, ignác, Šechtl, contents, life, style, selected, works, symphonies, other, orchestral, concertante, chamber, music, . Josef Bohuslav Foerster 30 December 1859 29 May 1951 was a Czech composer and musicologist He is often referred to as J B Foerster and his surname is sometimes spelled Forster Josef Bohuslav Foerster by Ignac Sechtl Contents 1 Life 2 Style 3 Selected works 3 1 Symphonies 3 2 Other orchestral and concertante 3 3 Chamber music and solo works 3 4 Choral works 3 5 Songs 3 6 Operas 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksLife editFoerster was born in Prague His ancestors were of Bohemian German ethnicity but had assimilated into the Czech community The family normally lived in Prague and was musical His father a composer also named Josef Foerster taught at the Conservatory His father s students included Franz Lehar 1 His brother was artist Viktor Foerster Josef was educated accordingly and duly studied there He also showed an early interest in the theatre and thought of becoming an actor He taught music one of his early students was composer and Stuttgart court pianist Anna Sick 2 From 1884 Foerster worked as a critic and he would prove to be a writer of distinction In 1893 he married the leading Czech soprano Berta Lautererova Bertha Lauterer in Hamburg during ten years making his living there as a critic and she was engaged at the Hamburg Staatsoper In 1901 he became a teacher at the Hamburg Conservatory In 1903 Berta went to sing at the Vienna Hofoper and so Josef moved there with her continuing to make a living as a music critic He returned to Prague on the foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918 thereafter teaching at the conservatory and the university In 1946 he was declared a National Composer He died in Novy Vestec Style editFoerster produced numerous compositions His music is not nationalistic in the sense of employing the idioms of Czech folk music His work words and music is considered by whom very subjective and personal mystical and idealistic Foerster s opera Eva is another example like Leos Janacek s Jenufa of a libretto based on a play by Gabriela Preissova though his treatment differs 3 His compositions include five symphonies No 1 in D minor No 2 in F Op 29 1892 98 4 No 3 in D Op 36 4 No 4 in C minor Op 54 Easter Eve 1905 and No 5 in D minor Op 141 1929 4 other orchestral works including a symphonic poem based on Cyrano de Bergerac much chamber music including five string quartets No 1 in E Op 15 No 2 Op 39 5 No 3 in C Op 61 No 4 in F Op 182 1943 and the last written 1950 1 completed by Jan Hanus 6 7 three piano trios two violin and two cello sonatas and a several times recorded wind quintet at least five operas notably Eva concertos for cello Op 143 and two for violin No 1 in C minor Op 88 1911 6 No 2 in D minor Op 104 liturgical music among other works over 170 published opus numbers in all Many of his works remember family members the 2nd Symphony is dedicated to his sister Marie his brother s death led to the cantata Mortuis fratribus his son is commemorated in the Piano Trio and the 5th Symphony and his mother is a theme throughout his oeuvre Selected works editSee also List of compositions by Josef Bohuslav Foerster Symphonies edit Symphony No 1 in D minor Op 9 1888 Symphony No 2 in F major Op 29 1893 Symphony No 3 in D major Op 36 1895 Symphony No 4 Easter Eve in C minor Op 54 1905 Symphony No 5 in D minor Op 141 1929 Other orchestral and concertante edit Cyrano de Bergerac suite for large orchestra Op 55 7 Slavnostni overture 1907 Op 70 6 From Shakespeare for orchestra Op 76 7 Ballade for violin and orchestra Op 92 7 Springtime and Desire for orchestra Op 93 7 Capriccio for flute and orchestra Op 193b 8 Klekani for chorus and orchestra Op 151 6 In Den Bergen for orchestra Op 7 Two violin concertos op 88 and op 104 Chamber music and solo works edit Scherzo for piano Op 11 4 String quartet no 1 in E major Op 15 1888 93 9 Erotikon for piano Op 23 6 Cello sonata no 1 in F minor Op 45 published 1905 10 Wind Quintet in D major Op 95 1909 Fantasy for violin and piano Op 128 6 Impromptu for organ Op 135 6 Nonet Op 147 6 Little suite for two violins Op 183 6 Choral works edit Te Deum Laudamus Op 32 4 Missa in Honorem Sc Methodii pub around 1884 Op 35 4 Choruses for male voices Op 37 7 Missa bohemica Op 38 4 Stabat mater for mixed chorus and organ Op 56 6 Missa in honorem sanctissimae trinitatis 1940 Op 170 6 Songs edit Lieder der sehnsucht six songs Op 53 7 Operas edit Eva Debora 1873 opera Op 41 6 Jessika opera Notes edit Greene David Mason 1985 Greene s Biographical Encyclopedia of Composers Garden City N Y Doubleday p 979 ISBN 0 385 14278 1 Retrieved 25 December 2007 Cohen Aaron I 1987 International Encyclopedia of Women Composers Books amp Music USA ISBN 978 0 9617485 2 4 Tyrrell John 1994 7 Russian Czech Polish and Hungarian Opera to 1900 In Roger Parker ed The Oxford Illustrated History of Opera London New York Oxford University Press p 278 ISBN 0 19 285445 3 Retrieved 26 December 2007 a b c d e f g MZK Brno OPAC Archived from the original on 18 September 2007 Retrieved 16 September 2007 British Library Integrated Catalogue Retrieved 16 September 2007 a b c d e f g h i j k l Gateway Bayern OPAC Archived from the original on 4 March 2011 Retrieved 16 September 2007 a b c d e f g Library of Congress OPAC Retrieved 16 September 2007 National Library OPAC Koninklijke Bibliotheek National Library of the Netherlands Archived from the original on 7 August 2013 Retrieved 17 September 2007 Josef Bohuslav Foerster String Quartet No 1 E Major Op 15 Edition Silvertrust Retrieved 3 January 2011 Hofmeisters Monatsberichte March 1905 Retrieved 3 January 2011 References editScholes Percy Alfred 1970 The Oxford Companion to Music 10th ed London New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 311306 6 The Viking Opera Guide Susanne Dammann Ein Utopist in der Musik Problemgeschichtliche Beobachtungen zu Josef Bohuslav Foersters 3 Symphonie op 36 in Mitteilungen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur mittel und osteuropaische Musikgeschichte Heft 13 S 182 200 External links editRadio Prague Life of Foerster with RealAudio examples Free scores by Josef Bohuslav Foerster at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Czechmusic net biography Foerstrova spolecnost v Praze Foerster Society in Czech Josef Bohuslav Foerster at Find a Grave Portals nbsp Classical music nbsp Opera nbsp Biography nbsp Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Josef Bohuslav Foerster amp oldid 1182989344, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
