New Friends - MVSR2363 | 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. He was often inspired by folk music of his homeland.

One may refer to “New Friends” as a piece that is also firmly rooted in the tradition of Stanék’s home in the evenness of its texture, its clarity and orchestral colors. This assessment holds true here, although the composer adapted the message of his work to contemporary musical feeling.