Biography of Pavel Haas (1899-1944)

21.06.1899
Born in Brünn, son of Jewish parents
Most important student of Leos Janacek.
Hies compositions are stilistically related to Janacek and Strawinsky. Characteristical is the mixture of witty humour and melancholy.
1922
After examination he works as free music teacher, composer and music journalist in Brünn.
02.12.1941
Deportation to the concentration camp Theresianstadt. He still writes music there.
16.10.1944
Deportation to Auschwitz.
17.10.1944
Killed in the concentration camp of Auschwitz

Sheet music for flute:

Quintetto per Fiati op. 10
edition on amazonCD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet in B flat changing to E flat, bassoon, horn in F)
Boosey & Hawkes, 1671
Rating: difficult
  1. Preludio - Andante, ma vivace
  2. Preghiera - Misterioso e triste
  3. Ballo eccentrico - ritmo marcato
  4. Epilogo
Parts and score.
First work of Haas which received international success.
Written in 1929. Elements of Moravian folk songs with choral melodies and songs from the synagogue. Additionally the composer uses polyrhythm.
A revies of the Neues Wiener Tageblatt in 1935 said: The woodwind quintet of Pavel Haas is a work to be reckoned with. It is characterised by the originality of the themes and by a striking mastering of harmonization.
Premiere was at the 24. March 1930 played by the Moravian Woodwind Quintet. The first edition was published in 1934 by the Sadlo edition in Prague.

CDs with/from Pavel Haas

Ensemble Aventure, Robert Hill, Christian Hommel
Rudolf Karel, Pavel Haas, Erich Itor Kahn, Hans Krasa (1999)
Ars Musici
    Rudolf Karel: Nonett:
  1. Allegro con fuoco (07:00:00)
  2. Andante (04:54:00)
  3. Molto Allegro (04:51:00)
    4. Pavel Haas: Bläserquintett op. 10:
  4. Preludio. Andante ma vivace (03:14:00)
  5. Preghiera. Misterioso e triste (04:32:00)
  6. Ballo eccentrico. Ritmo marcato (02:12:00)
  7. Epilogo. Maestoso (03:47:00)
  8. Erich Itor Kahn: Actus Tragicus (14:00:00)
    9. Hans Krása: Kammermusik für Cembalo und sieben Instrumente:
  9. 1. Satz (07:58:00)
  10. 2. Satz (06:12:00)
Gotland Wind Quintet
Wind Pieces (1998)
Proprius Musik AB
    Pavel Haas: Wind Quintet op. 10:
  1. I. Preludio. Andante ma vivace (03:08:00)
  2. II. Preghiera. Misterioso e triste (04:22:00)
  3. III. Ballo eccentrico. Ritmo marcato (02:17:00)
  4. IV. Epilogo. Maestoso (03:38:00)
    5. Ray Naessen: Ikaros:
  5. I. Energico (02:46:00)
  6. II. Allegro (04:17:00)
  7. III. Molto tranquillo (04:08:00)
  8. IV. Allegro scherzo (02:00:00)
  9. V. Tranquillo cantabile (02:43:00)
  10. VI. Allegro (00:47:00)
    11. György Ligeti: Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintett (1953):
  11. I. Allegro con spirito (01:08:00)
  12. II. Rubato - Lamentoso (03:15:00)
  13. III. Allegro grazioso (02:30:00)
  14. IV. Presto ruvido (00:59:00)
  15. V. Adagio - Mesto (02:20:00)
  16. VI. Molto vivace - Capriccioso (01:15:00)
  17. Tony Blomdahl: Primo (05:42:00)
    18. Sven-David Sandström: Wind Pieces:
  18. Part I (01:50:00)
  19. Par II (03:32:00)
  20. Part III (02:29:00)
  21. Part IV (03:29:00)
  22. Part V (02:21:00)
Exklusives für Bläserquintett. Der Haas war eine Entdeckung für mich, sehr schön. Das einzige sehr bekannte ist der Ligeti. Ikaros ist in großen Teilen sehr lyrisch und choralartig gehalten. Wie bei dem Thema (junger Mann stürzt sich aus Übermut zu Tode) nicht anders zu erwarten eher dunkle Stimmungen. Rund gespielt.
Last edit 17.08.2010