Fantasia Boemica - MVSR2345 | Muziek

Pavel Stanék was born in 1927 in Prague. He finished his studies at the conservatory there, in 1950, and from this year up to 1954 he was conductor of the Folk Ensemble. During his military service he conducted the Central Band of the Ministery of the Interior and was their director and artistic leader almost for almost six years. From 1961 to 1963 he was conductor of the light opera theatre "Na Fidlovacce" and in 1963 he was appointed as director of the Ostrava Radio Orchestra, until 1990. During this period and after he was often invited as guest conductor. As a composer, Pavel Stanék influenced the development of wind music by his extraordinary compositions. The valuable treasure of his native country’s folklore constitutes one of the truly essential sources of inspiration for the Moravian composer.

In the case of the “Fantasia Boemica” one might feel inclined to discover a musical program in this piece:
A dramatic introduction is followed by an episode describing a rustic festivity. Dance and happiness prevail.
The following section reveals lyric, almost melancholic traits. Then the dramatic expression revives.
The piece, however, concludes in a placatory, almost melancholy mood.

The “Fantasia Boemica” reveals some of the special traits of Stanék’s musical output: he strives for an easily accessible musical expression on the basis of melodic ingenuity, coupled with the right feeling for musical form, and by employing the entire range of orchestral colors. To write easily accessible music does not mean to produce mediocre pieces for Stanék.