Release Date: 31 December 2005
Label: Marco Polo
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 636943532720
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: KOMZAK I / KOMZAK II
Description
Karel Komzak I (1823-1893) and Karel Komzak II (1850-1905):Waltzes, Marches and Polkas 2There were three composers named Komzak, father, son and grandson, each of whom shared the first name Karelor Karl, and who together made a significant contribution to the popular light music of Central Europe during thenineteenth and early twentieth century. The central, and most successful, member of this dynasty was Karel (Karl)Komzak II, ten of whose compositions are recorded here. He was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding amonga host of highly-gifted composers whose dances and marches made Vienna the light music capital of Europe in theclosing decades of the nineteenth century. His father, Karel Komzak I, an eminent orchestral conductor and militarybandmaster, is represented here by three works.The Komzak family came from southern Bohemia where, in 1823, Karel I was born in the village ofNet??chovice near T?¢n nad Vltavou. He moved to Prague and founded his own orchestra which was so successfulthat in 1862 it became the resident orchestra of the newly-founded Prague Provisional Theatre, forerunner of therenowned National Theatre. Antonin Dvofiak was a viola-player in this orchestra, which also included theconductor's son, Karel II, on violin. Karel I left his orchestra in 1865 to take up the appointment of bandmaster tothe Austro-Hungarian imperial army's 11th Infantry Regiment. Over the next fifteen years he served with theregiment in a succession of locations from Trento, in the west, to Hradec Kralove, in the east. Everywhere, both asbandmaster and composer, he was extremely popular and the band became noted for the regular inclusion of Czechfolk-songs in concert programmmes. Then, after moving on to the 74th Infantry Regiment in 1880, Karel I foundhimself in less favourable circumstances where the performance of Czech national airs was forbidden.Consequently after only a year in this new post he left military service. In December 1882, however, when theauthorities were looking for an accomplished bandmaster to undertake the formation of a military band for thenewly-established 88th Infantry Regiment in Prague, Karel I was persuaded to take up this important appointment.Five years later, with the band flourishing, he finally retired for good at the end of April 1888, spending the rest ofhis days at Net??chovice, where he died in 1893. Of his reputedly more than two hundred compositions, we nowknow (thanks to the scholarly work of Max Schonherr) that a fair number have survived in various archives. Atleast two waltzes, forty-odd polkas, around twenty polka mazurkas, a handful of galops and quadrilles, and aboutfifteen marches still exist, either in printed or manuscript copies, mostly without opus numbers.Karel Komzak II was born in Prague on 8th November 1850. His father supervised his early musical training,and he studied violin, musical theory and conducting at the Prague Conservatory between 1861 and 1867. InMarch 1869 he joined his father's 1
Tracklisting
Slovak Sinf Zilina:Pollack
Slovak Sinf:Pollack
Slovak Sinf:Marzendorfer
Slovak Radio Po
Christian Pollack
Slovak Sinf, Zilina:Pollack
Slovak Sinf:Zilina
Slovak Sinfonietta, Pollack
