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| Karel Husa |
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Karel Husa, Pulitzer Prize winner in Music, is an internationally known composer and conductor who was Kappa Alpha professor at Cornell University from 1954 until his retirement and also Lecturer in Composition at Ithaca College. An American citizen since 1959, Husa was born in Prague on August 7, 1921, studying at the Prague Conservatory and Academy of Music, and later at the National Conservatory and École Normale de Musique in Paris. Among his teachers were Arthur Honegger, Nadia Boulanger, Jaroslav Ridky, and conductor Andre Cluytens. |
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Husa was elected Associate Member of the Royal Belgian Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1974, and to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1994. He has received honorary doctorates from Coe College, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ithaca College, Baldwin-Wallace College, St. Vincent College, Hartwick College, New England Conservatory and the Masaryk University (Czech Republic); and has been the recipient of‘ many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and awards from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, UNESCO, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Koussevitzky Foundation, the Czech Academy for the Arts and Sciences, the Lili Boulanger Award, Bilthoven (Holland) Contemporary Music Prize, a Kennedy Center-Friedheim Award, and the Sudler International Award. His Concerto for Cello and Orchestra earned him the 1993 Grawemeyer Award. In 1995, Husa was awarded the Czech Republic’s highest civilian recognition, the State Medal of Merit, First Class, and in 1998 the Medal of the City of Prague. |
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His String Quartet No. 3 earned him the 1969 Pulitzer Prize and, with over 7,000 performances, his Music for Prague 1968 has become part of the modern repertory. Another well-known work, Apotheosis of this Earth is called by Husa a “manifesto” against pollution and destruction. His works have been performed by major orchestras all over the world. Two works were commissioned by the New York Philharmonic: the Concerto for Orchestra premiered by Zubin Mehta, and the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra written for concertmaster Glenn Dicterow and conducted by Kurt Masur, and the Concerto for Trumpet was commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Sir Georg Solti for performance in Chicago and on tour in Australia with principal trumpeter Adolph Herseth. Among his recent compositions are the String Quartet No. 4 (an NEA commission for the Colorado Quartet), Cayuga Lake (for Ithaca College ’s centennial celebration), and Les couleurs fauves for wind ensemble (commissioned by the Northwestern University). |
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Karel Husa has conducted many major orchestras including those in Paris, London, Hamburg, Brussels, Prague, Stockholm, Oslo, Zurich, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, Boston, Washington, Cincinnati, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Louisville, and others. Every year he visits the campuses of music schools and universities to guest conduct and lecture on his music. Much of Husa’s music is available on recordings issued by CBS Masterworks, Vox, Louisville, Panton, Phoenix, Crystal, CRI, Everest, Grenadilla, Sheffield, and other labels. |
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Festive Ode Festive Ode (For an Academic Occasion) Composed to a German text by Thomas Martin and an English singing translation by Eric A. Blackall, Festive Ode is ideally suited for school graduation ceremonies. Originally published in 1969, this new edition features inclusive language and revised accompaniment. This work can also be performed with wind symphony or brass ensemble with percussion. The full score and parts for all versions are available from the rental department. (ca. 3’00'’) |
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Performance Note Festive Ode was composed for the Centennial Celebration of Cornell University. The first performance took place at the Centennial Convocation, Barton Hall, Cornell University on October 9, 1964. Thomas A. Sokol conducted the Chorus, Glee Club and Symphony Orchestra of Cornell University. Being a work written for an occasion, I composed the Festive Ode in a simple language. Unison writing appears extensively in the chorus and in the instrumental parts (the latter also to produce a strong sound, even in immense halls where the acoustics might not be ideal). The instrumentation is flexible. In the orchestral version, instruments such as English horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, tuba, 2nd and 4th horns and others may be omitted. Where an orchestra is not available, either a wind symphony or a brass ensemble with percussion can be used. In the version for wind symphony, the string parts are played by soprano clarinet, alto clarinet, saxophones and contrabass. The brass and percussion remain the same except the last thirteen measures, where trombone 3 and tuba play the downstem notes as indicated in the parts and score. Baritone horns double trombone 3 and tuba through m. 20 and from m. 21 through the end double trombones 1 and 2. All the doubling instruments may be omitted. The orchestra and band may even be combined when large festival choruses are used. Should only brass and percussion be available, they should play the same instrumental parts as they would in the version for wind symphony. (The minimum instrumentation in this version would be 2 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and 2 percussion players.) The choral parts, scored for SATB Chorus, may be sung with very slight alterations by TTBB chorus. The words have been slightly altered from the 1969 edition in order to employ gender-inclusive language. —Karel Husa |
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Orchestra Piccolo |
Wind Symphony Piccolo |
Brass Ensemble with Percussion Horns 1-4 |
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Performance materials are available on rental from the publisher. |
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The positive reviews for Festive Ode keep rolling in! Festive Ode, a majestic fanfare, combines the rhythmic vitality, intensity and rich scoring of Karel Husa’s music with a succinct, lofty text. The composition is a powerful musical salute for special occasions, and was first performed for ten thousand guests at Cornell University ’s Centennial Convocation in 1964. The choral text setting, which is mostly in unison, is embellished by strong, sparse harmonic insertions at climactic phrases, and is accompanied by energetic, intense rhythms by the instruments and percussion. Festive Ode... is an extraordinary addition of high-quality music to specialized repertory for our time. —Thomas A. Sokol Karel Husa’s Festive Ode is a short, celebratory piece that will add much to either a “special event” or regular concert program. It serves beautifully as a companion piece on concerts featuring large works for chorus and wind band such as Berlioz’s Grand Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale, Op. 15, Ron Nelson’s Te Deum, Husa’s Apotheosis of this Earth, or as music that will add a special musical dimension to celebratory occasions (graduations, etc.). It’s an excellent addition to the literature for chorus and instrumental ensembles (wind band and/or orchestra and/or brass choir with percussion). — Frank L. Battisti Karel Husa’s Festive Ode is a wonderful piece that I have performed with wind ensemble and chorus. It is vintage Husa with his signature rhythmic drive and strong harmonies. Not only is it an extremely exuberant and celebratory work, its flexibility in scoring for many different ensembles with or without chorus makes it the most adaptable piece I know for this kind of occasion. Husa really scored a “home run” with this composition and I hope that more and more people will consider using it for their academic events. I think it would be also great as a concert opener! —Mark Scatterday, Conductor, From the opening martial triplet which pulses as a rhythmic motif throughout the work, one realizes that Festive Ode is vintage Karel Husa. Brilliantly scored and available for accompaniment by orchestra, wind ensemble, or only brass, the SATB (or TTBB) chorus produces a powerful effect with unison and solid four-part writing. The rhythmic and tonal stability enable the instrumental and choral ensembles to be rehearsed separately and come together quickly for a dramatic and moving performance. —James Ode, DMA, Karel Husa’s wind symphony version of Festive Ode provides an excellent addition to a concert of wind orchestra works and is especially effective for a festive or academic occasion. The masterful handling of voices and instruments, as well as musical material, is what we have come to expect from one of our greatest composers. —Robert M. Gifford, D.M.A. The Festive Ode is a perfect opener and not just for an academic occasion. Its accessibility and versatility make it a perfect work for almost any choral concert. The choral parts are carefully written so that the piece is available not just to college ensembles, but also to almost any high school chorus. I highly recommend it! —Jiri Kratochvil Having been a devoted follower of Karel Husa’s music for over twenty-five years, I am delighted to... enthusiastically endorse his Festive Ode. This is a work that certainly deserves a wider audience, for it speaks directly to the hearts of performer and audience alike. The different versions are each successful in their own format, and given its short duration, I have found this to be a work that can be performed with relatively short preparation time. I would encourage every conductor to diligently peruse this score, as this is a work that can proudly take its place among the very best of Karel’s music. —Rodney Winther There is nothing at all “academic” about this very accessible and decidedly exuberant musical celebration by one of the finest composers of our time. This extremely well-crafted work is sure to inspire all audiences, sophisticated and lay. Husa provides the conductor with three thoughtful, flexible instrumental options to interact with the SATB or TTBB chorus: orchestra, wind symphony, or brass/percussion ensemble. Festive Ode is at the top of my list of works to perform for the dedication of our new fine arts center here at Radford. — Mark Camphouse Karel Husa’s Festive Ode is an enticing piece for choir and instrumental ensemble. Written mostly for unison or two-part chorus, it can be performance-ready with little rehearsal time. The spirit of the piece really comes to life when performed with instruments... It would be an excellent opening or closing selection for combined festival groups. —Dr. John B. Egbert Karel Husa’s Festive Ode (For an Academic Occasion)... in a new edition by Highgate Press... was originally composed for the Cornell University Centennial and premiered in 1964. Originally [scored] for SATB chorus and orchestra, Husa has now released the piece for mixed or male chorus accompanied by orchestra, band, or both, and with instructions for performance with a smaller instrumental group of brass and percussion. The various versions give the piece a versatility that will prove useful for school music programs. Given the celebratory nature of the text, the short work would be perfect for any graduation. The simple unison choral parts and the triadic [harmonies], periodically intensified with seconds and sevenths, make the piece immediately appealing to audiences and easy to prepare. The work will be useful to any college or university ensemble program, even those of limited size. — Dr. Robert Rollin, Coordinator As a high school instrumental teacher, I am quite familiar with Karel Husa’s compositions that are suitable for serious teenage musicians. I have witnessed how young musicians thrive, grow and prosper from studying and performing music that can be heard by (or sent on tape or CD to) the composer, especially a composer of Husa’s stature. His Festive Ode offers a unique challenge to a high school music program with an adventurous attitude towards combining its choral, string, woodwind, brass and percussion forces in an interdisciplinary unit of study. The work allows for collaboration of several faculty members as it incorporates several subject areas including Language, History and the Arts. — Joseph Rutkowski © 2008 ECS Publishing. All rights reserved. |
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