New melodramas by Zdeněk Zahradník
Zdeněk Zahradník (*1936), currently reputable composer, chairman of Association of Czech Composers Prague (department of Association of Musical Artists and Scientists) at the moment, is also intensively devoted to creating melodramas. Melodrama plays an irreplaceable role in his compositional repertoire. He has composed more than two tenths of the melodramas and melodramatic cycles so far. The presented study is concerned with Zahradnik's new piece in this genre, named "Three Melodramas" (Tři melodramy) - "The Picture", "The Marionettes" and "The Bath" (Obraz-Loutky-Koupel) from 2012, written for reciter, oboe, bassoon and piano and based on the short stories by Ilja Hurník. The text's content and range of applied compositional principles add a humorous nature therefore its premiere was integrated into a program of contemporary humorous Czech melodramas during the 15th International Festival of Concert Melodrama. Melodramas can also be used suitably in the pedagogical process.
Keywords: Zdeněk Zahradník, Ilja Hurník, melodrama, International Festival of Concert Melodrama, humour in music
Published: September 30, 2012 Show citation
