Jana Obrovská Explained

Jana Obrovská (13 September 1930 – 4 April 1987) was a Czech composer.

Biography

Jana Obrovská was born in Prague, the daughter of painter and sculptor Jakub Obrovský. Her early studies were piano with B. Kabeláčová-Rixová and theory with Jaroslav Řídký. At the Prague Conservatory she studied with M. Krejčí and Emil Hlobil from 1949-55. She won a prize in the 1972 Concours International de Guitarre in Paris for Passocaglia und Toccata. Her Hommage a Béla Bartók became compulsory in the same Paris competition in 1975. Obrovská also composed music for orchestra and chamber ensembles.^{[1] [2]}

Obrovská married guitar virtuoso Milan Zelenka and the couple had a son, guitarist Vilém Zelenka (b. 1987) who often plays in a duo with his father.

Works

Obrovská's compositions have been recorded and issued on CD, including:

Selective discography

• Passacaglia and Toccata for guitar, A. Artzt, Helios CD CDH88026 (1989)
• Due Musici and Concerto for Two Guitars and Orchestra, M. Zelenka and L. Brabec with Radio Symphony Orchestra Pilsen, Supraphon VT2789-2 (2018)
• Homage to Béla Bartók for guitar, R. Aussel HARMONIA MUNDI CD in MAN4802 (1992)
• Four images of Japan for guitar, Tribute to Hiroshige - Homage to Hokusai - Tribute to Utamara - Tribute to Sharaku, R. Aussel HARMONIA MUNDI CD in MAN4802

(1992)^[3]

• Preludia and Hommage a Choral Gothique for guitar, . . . A Ty Taky Jdi do Ithaky . . ., P. Steidl WILLIAM RECORDING WR001 (2013)^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jana Obrovska . 16 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616183135/http://www.schott-music.com/shop/persons/az/14121/index.html . 16 June 2011 .
2. Book: Handbook of Guitar and Lute Composers. Hannu. Annala. Heiki. Mätlik. 2008. Mel Bay . 9780786658442. 11 November 2010.
3. Web site: Jana OBROVSKA. 16 October 2010. 25 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100325044200/http://www.lamediatheque.be/travers_sons/fc-obrovska.htm. dead.
4. Web site: William Recording. 1 June 2015.