Václav Nelhýbel (September 24, 1919 – March 22, 1996) was a Czech-American composer, mainly of works for student performers.

Life and career

Nelhýbel was born the youngest of five children in ,

Ostrava Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...

, Czechoslovakia. He received his early musical training in Prague, going to both

Charles University Charles University (CUNI; , UK; ; ), or historically as the University of Prague (), is the largest university in the Czech Republic. It is one of the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest universities in the world in conti ...

in Prague and

Prague Conservatory The Prague Conservatory () is a public music school in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1808. Currently, the school offers four- or six-year courses, which can be compared to the level of a high school diploma in other countries. Graduates c ...

. In 1942 he went to Switzerland, where he studied at

University of Fribourg The University of Fribourg (; ) is a public university located in Fribourg, Switzerland. The roots of the university can be traced back to 1580, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg ...

; after 1947 he taught there. In 1957 he came to the United States, where he taught at several schools, including Lowell State College. He served as

composer-in-residence Artist-in-residence (also Writer-in-residence), or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs that involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs that pr ...

University of Scranton The University of Scranton is a private Jesuit university in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1888 by William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. In 1938, the college was elevated to university status and took ...

for several years until his death. The university's Department of Performance Music continues to house his full collection of works. Some of his music is for

wind instrument A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator (usually a tube) in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece set at or near the end of the resonator. The pitch ...

s or

concert band A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind instrument, woodwind, brass ...

, and most of his published music is designed for student performers. He used non-functional modal writing, pandiatonicism, and motor rhythms extensively. He was an advocate Via ''Woodwind Anthology''; a compendium of articles from ''The Instrumentalist'' on the woodwind instruments of the use of a flute in F, sitting between (and notably aurally bridging) the standard (and far more common) C Flute and C Piccolo. Although such a flute is now commercially available from Kotato, he wrote of it in hypothetical terms as solving a perceived dilemma at the end of the chorale in his ''Symphonic Movement'' (1966); however, his advocating does not seem to have borne fruit. Interestingly, he advised against such a bridge role being served by either the E

soprano flute The soprano flute (also called a third flute or tierce flute) is a type of flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is pitched in E, a minor third above the concert flute, and is one of the few members of the modern flute family th ...

or G treble flute (at least in concert band settings) due to the additional accidentals (sharps and flats, respectively) compared to the key in which the flute/piccolo would be playing. His writing of the G treble flute in hypothetical terms, implies that he was unaware in 1967 of its recent creation and use by the Ulster Amateurs (a Northern Irish flute band) in 1965. That band used it as a replacement for the pre-

Boehm Boehm () is a German surname, transliterated from Böhm (literally: Bohemian, from Bohemia) or reflective of a spelling adopted by a given family before the introduction of the umlaut diacritic. It may refer to: * Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm (bo ...

(simple-system) flute in A. Those flutes served the same function as Nelhýbel's proposed F soprano flute – a bridge between piccolo and C flute. Nelhýbel received numerous prizes and awards for his compositions, which include a prize at the International Music and Dance Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, for his ballet "In the Shadow of the Limetree". In 1954, he was also awarded the first prize of the Ravitch Foundation in New York for his opera ''A Legend'', and in 1978 he won an award from the Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts. Four American universities honored him with honorary doctoral degrees in music. In addition to his works for winds, he wrote three

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

s, three

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

s, and a

symphony A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...

. He was also a member of

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...

and

Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (, colloquially referred to as KKPsi) is an honorary Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for school band, college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November ...

Works

Orchestra

* 1964 ''Etude symphonique'' * 1966 ''Passacaglia'' for orchestra and solo piano * 1967 ''Dies ultima'' for orchestra,

SATB In music, SATB is a scoring of compositions for choirs or consorts of instruments consisting of four voice types: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Choral music Four-part harmony using soprano, alto, tenor and bass is a common scoring in classic ...

chorus, SATB soli, narrator, speaking chorus and jazz band * 1967 ''Music for Orchestra'' * 1968 ''Movement for Orchestra'' * 1972 ''A mighty fortress'' * 1973 ''Polyphonies'' * 1974 ''Aegean Modes'' * 1976 ''Finale'' * 1977 ''Concerto spirituoso No. 4'' for orchestra, string quartet and solo voice * 1976 ''Slavonic Triptych'' * 1979 ''Lincoln Scene'' * 1980 ''Six Fables for all time'' for orchestra, SATB chorus and narrator * 1981 ''Overture for Orchestra'' * 1985 ''New Orleans Concerto'' * ''Cantique des cantiques'' for orchestra, soprano solo, harp and piano * ''Cantus Concertante'' for orchestra, violin, viola, cello soli and soprano solo * ''Canzona e Toccata feroce'' * ''Christmas in Bohemia'' for mixed choir and orchestra * ''Concerto spirituoso No. 5'' for orchestra, saxophone quartet and string quartet * Concerto for clarinet and orchestra * Concerto for double bass and orchestra * Concerto for guitar and chamber orchestra * Concerto for trombone and orchestra * Concerto for viola and orchestra * Concertino for chamber orchestra and piano * Divertimento for brass quintet and orchestra * ''Fantasia Concertante'' * ''Fantasy on America'' for festival orchestra, solo violin and youth solo section * ''Four Australian Songs'' for orchestra and (SA) chorus * ''Four readings from Marlowe's " Doctor Faustus"'' for orchestra (or piano) and male solo voice * ''Graffiti Pompeiani'' for orchestra, SSATTBB soli and piano * ''Houston Concerto'' * ''Jesu meine Freude'' * ''Kindermarch'' * ''Let there be Music'' for orchestra, SATB chorus, baritone voice solo, piano, bass guitar and electric guitar * ''Music for Woodwind Quintet and Orchestra'' * ''Praise the Lord'' for orchestra, SATB chorus, SATB soli and piano * ''Rhapsody'' for saxophone and orchestra * ''Rhapsody in D'' for orchestra, string quartet and piano * ''Sine Nomine'' for SATB chorus, SATB soloists, orchestra and band * ''Sinfonie contra Plagam'' for orchestra and SATB chorus * ''Sinfonietta Concertante'' * ''Three Modes for Orchestra'' for orchestra and piano * ''Two Movements for Chamber Orchestra''

Concert band

* 1965 ''Chorale'' * 1965 ''Symphonic Requiem'' for band and bass baritone solo * 1965 ''Trittico'' *# Allegro maestoso *# Adagio *# Allegro marcato * 1966 ''Adagio and Allegro'' * 1966 ''Andante and Toccata'' * 1966 ''Appassionato'' * 1966 ''Estampie'' for band and antiphonal brass choir (2 trumpets, 2 trombones) * 1966 Prelude and Fugue * 1966 ''Symphonic Movement'' * 1967 ''Caucasian Passacaglia'' * 1967 ''Ceremonial Music'' for field band and antiphonal trumpet * 1967 ''Suite Concertante'' * 1967 ''Three Revolutionary Marches'' (composed by Smetana, arranged by Nehlýbel) * 1968 ''Festivo'' * 1969 ''Marcia Dorica'' * 1969 ''Suite from Bohemia'' * 1970 ''Two Symphonic Movements'' * 1970 ''Cantata Pacis'' SATB chorus, SATB soloists, wind ensemble, piano-celesta, organ and percussion * 1971 ''Yamaha Concerto'' * 1971 ''Hymn of Hope'' for band and SATB chorus * 1972 ''Alaska Scherzo'' * 1972 ''Antiphonale'' for band, brass sextet (3 trumpets, 3 trombones) * 1972 ''High Plains'' * 1972 ''Introit'' for band and chimes solo * 1973 ''Concert Piece'' for band, solo wind instrument (alto or tenor or baritone saxophone, or trumpet, or trombone, or baritone, or tuba) * 1973 ''Organum'' for band and antiphonal brass choir (2 trumpets, 2 trombones) * 1974 ''Czech Suite'' * 1974 ''Dixie Parade'' * 1974 ''Halleluiah'' for band and SATB chorus * 1974 ''Russian Chant and Dance'' * 1975 ''Fugue to the Mountains'' * 1975 ''Praise to the Lord'' for band and antiphonal trumpets * 1976 ''Ballad'' * 1976 ''Ça Ira'' (song of the French Revolution) * 1976 ''Corsican Litany'' * 1976 ''Crusaders'' * 1976 ''Dialogues'' for band and piano solo * 1976 ''Evening Song'' * 1976 ''Fanfares'' (Smetana-Nelhybel) * 1976 ''Finale'' based on "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" and "America" * 1976 ''March in Counterpoint'' * 1976 ''March to Nowhere'' * 1976 ''Parade'' * 1976 ''Processional'' * 1976 ''Religioso'' * 1976 ''Valse Nostalgique'' * 1977 ''Aegean Modes'' * 1977 ''Lyrical March'' * 1977 ''Yugoslav Dance'' * 1979 ''Amen'' * 1979 ''Ritual'' * 1980 ''Battle Hymn of the Republic'' for band and SATB chorus * 1981 ''Concerto Grosso'' for band and tubas solo (2 or more tubas) * 1981 ''He's got the whole World in his Hands'' for band and SATB chorus * 1981 ''Swing low, Sweet Chariot'' for band and SATB chorus * 1982 ''Concertante'' * 1982 ''Fantasia'', three interpretations of Prelude I from

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

's ''Well-Tempered Clavier'' * 1982 ''French Suite'' * 1982 ''Holiday in Germany'' * 1983 ''Born to die'' * 1983 ''Christmas in Poland'' * 1983 ''Great is thy Faithfulness'' (Runyan-Nelhybel) for band and SATB chorus * 1984 ''Agon'' * 1985 ''Overture for Band'' * 1988 ''Christmas March'' * 1988 ''Festove Adorations'' based on "A Mighty Fortress", "Jesu Priceless Treasure", and "Praise the Almighty" * 1989 ''Cantus'' * 1990 ''Concerto'' for bass trombone and wind ensemble or orchestra * 1992 ''Procession to the End of Time'' * 1995 ''Concertato'' for tenor trombone, bass trombone and wind ensemble * 1996 ''Concerto'' for euphonium and band * 1996 ''Prelude and Chorale'' for band and solo instrument – based on the 12th century chorale ''Svaty Vaclave'' * 1996 ''Prayer and Thanksgiving'' * 1996 ''Songs of Praise'' based on "God of our Fathers", "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Onward Christian Soldiers" * 1996 ''Star Spangled Banner'' * ''Agape'' for soloists, SATB chorus and wind ensemble * ''Agitato e Marcia'' * ''Amen for Everyman'' for SATB chorus, SB soloists, band, jazz ensemble and organ * ''America sings'' for SATB chorus and band * ''Benny Havens'' * ''Canticum'' for band and SATB chorus * ''Ceremony for Band'' * ''Chorale Variations'' * ''Chronos'' for band, guitar and piano *# Grave – Adagio *# Toccata feroce * ''Concerto'' for clarinet (or saxophone), 25 winds, percussion * ''Concerto'' for horn (or tuba), piccolo, 2 flutes, oboe, english horn, 2 bassoons, 2 clarinets, harp, double bass, 2 trumpets, trombone, vibraphone, xylophone, bells, chimes * ''Cornerstone for a new Moon'' for SATB, band, piano and organ * ''Dance of the dead Souls'' * ''De Profundis'' concerto for trumpet and band * ''Divertimento for Band'' * ''Drake Suite'' * ''Epitaph'' * ''Espressivo'' * ''Five and a half Songs'' for SATB chorus, TB soloists, 12 woodwinds, 5 brass, 2 percussion and keyboard * ''Golden Concerto'' for trumpet, 16 winds and percussion * ''Hymn of hope'' for (SATB) chorus and band * ''Jesu, Priceless Treasure'' (Bach-Nelhybel) for band and SATB chorus * ''La danse des fauves'' for clarinet, oboe/english horn, bassoon and band * ''Lento for Band'' * ''Liturgy'' for band and solo voice * ''Monolith'' * ''Musical Offering'' (Bach-Nelhybel) based on three chorales by

: "Jesu Priceless Treasure", "Morning Star", "Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded" * ''Ostinato'' * ''Pentecost Concerto'' for clarinet and band * ''Rhapsody in C'' for band and piano solo * ''Sand-Silence-Solitude'' * ''Sine Nomine'' for SATB chorus, SATB Soloists, orchestra and band * ''Sinfonia Resurrectionis'' * ''The Silence'' for band and soprano solo * ''Te Deum'' SATB chorus, SATB soloists, organ or 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba and timpani * ''Toccata'' (Cernohorsky-Nelhýbel) for band and organ – An arrangement of a toccata by Bohuslav Matej Cernohorsky (1684–1742) * ''Toccata feroce'' for band and piano solo * ''Toccata in D'' * ''Toccata in D (Flat)'' * ''Toccata in E'' * ''Variations on " Es ist genug"''

Organ

* ''Concerto No. 1'' for organ and orchestra without woodwinds * ''Concerto No. 2'' for organ and orchestra without woodwinds * ''Concerto No. 3'' for organ, piccolo trumpet and timpani * ''Introit'' for organ and solo chimes

Choral

* 1966 ''Caroli Antiqui Varii'' SSATTBB chorus – 7 traditional Christmas songs *# Quem vidistis *# Lully lulla *# Qui creavit caelum *# Celebrons *# O Jesu Christ *# Es kommt ein Schiff geladen *# Puer natus in Bethlehem * 1966 ''Epitaph for a Soldier'' SATB chorus and SA soloists – text by

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman Jr. (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist; he also wrote two novels. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature and world literature. Whitman incor ...

from ''

Leaves of Grass ''Leaves of Grass'' is a poetry collection by American poet Walt Whitman. After self-publishing it in 1855, he spent most of his professional life writing, revising, and expanding the collection until his death in 1892. Either six or nine separa ...

'' * 1966 ''The Wife of Usher's Well'' SATB chorus * 1967 ''Four Ballads – (The Gallows-Tree)'' SSATBB chorus and SBB soloists ** "Come, O My Love" TBB chorus ** "Peter Gray" SSA chorus ** "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife" SSATBB chorus * 1971 ''Let my People go'' SATB Chorus and SATB Soloists * 1972 ''The Lord shall raise me up'' SATB Chorus * 1973 ''Gift of Love'' SA Chorus * 1975 ''Estampie Natalis'' for eight-part mixed chorus, SAT soli, piccolo, violin (viola), cello, and percussion * 1977 ''Psalm 150 (Praise Him with the Timbrel)'' Four-Part Chorus of Mixed Voices * 1979 ''Adoratio'' 6 sopranos, 5 altos, 5 tenors, 5 basses (or larger chorus) – text from the second book of ''Solomon's Song of Songs'' * 1980 ''Orange and blue'' SATB Chorus * 1981 ''All through the Night'' SSA Chorus * 1981 ''Katy Cruel'' SSA Chorus * ''Banana Three and other Songs'' SATB Chorus

Opera

* 1954 ''A Legend'' * 1979 ''Everyman'' – based on a medieval ballad * ''King Lear'' – text:

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'' * ''The Station''

Selected discography

The Symphony Orchestra and Its Instruments (1959)

Twelve-Tone Composition Prepared by Vaclav Nelhybel (1961)

Forms in Instrumental Music: Prepared by Vaclav Nelhybel (1962)

Modal Counterpoint in the Style of the 16th Century Prepared by Vaclav Nelhybel (1962)

Music Arrangement: Prepared by Vaclav Nelhybel – Musical examples played by chamber orchestra (1962)

Traditional Harmony Prepared by Vaclav Nelhybel (1962)

The Fugue in the Style of the 18th Century (1964)

Tonal Counterpoint in the Style of the 18th Century Prepared by Vaclav Nelhybel (1964)

Outer Space: Music by Vaclav Nelhybel (1974)

References

External links

"Nelhybel"

Discography
at

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was f ...

Interview with Vaclav Nelhybel
October 25, 1986 {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelhybel, Vaclav 1919 births 1996 deaths 20th-century American composers 20th-century classical composers American classical composers American male classical composers American opera composers American people of Czech descent Charles University alumni Czech classical composers Czech male classical composers Czech opera composers Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States Male opera composers People from Ridgefield, Connecticut Place of death missing University of Fribourg alumni University of Scranton faculty 20th-century American male musicians Prague Conservatory alumni