Edvard Schiffauer

Tomáš Edvard Schiffauer (born 26 March 1942), more commonly known as Edvard Schiffauer, is a Czech composer of classical music. Schiffauer is mainly a composer of music for theatre. He moreover composed vocal pieces like operas, an oratorio, a mass and others, along with chamber music, such as sonatas, sonatinas, a string quartet, pieces for a brass quintet, a wind octet, a string trio and more.

Edvard Schiffauer
Photograph of Edvard Schiffauer in 2011
Born
Tomáš Edvard Schiffauer

26 March 1942
Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)
Occupation(s)Composer, professor of composition
Notable workRural Christmas Mass (op.4), Children's opera Vrat' nám, ptáku, Hastermana! (op.5)
SpouseVěra Heřmánková
ChildrenJakub, Filip, Sylvie
Parents
  • Leopold Schiffauer (father)
  • Marta Dušková (mother)

Biography

Edvard Schiffauer was born in Ostrava in an educated upper-middle-class family. However, the family's quality of life degraded after the communist 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état. In 1960, Schiffauer started his study at the Technical University of Ostrava, which he discontinued,[1] but he completed his master's degree at the Pedagogical Institute of the University of Ostrava in 1964.[2] He also started studying musical composition in the Academy of Performing Arts.[3]

In 1961, Schiffauer and other students established the theatre Divadélko Pod okapem (Little Theatre under the Gutter), which became an Ostravian equivalent of the Semafor Theatre, in Prague. Furthermore, he was involved in the foundation of the theatre Divadlo Waterloo (Waterloo Theatre) and wrote the music for the musical Syn Pluku (op. 3) (Son of the Regiment) in 1968. Later, the Waterloo Theatre was banned by the authorities in the normalization era in Czechoslovakia and a large-scale court trial was held with those involved in the theatre. Schiffauer was expelled from the Academy of Performing Arts and sentenced to nine months of imprisonment as a result of having composed for Syn Pluku.

Portrait by Antonín Kroča, 2005

He served his sentence in the prison in Pilsen-Bory, wherein he wrote the children's opera Vrat' nám, ptáku, Hastermana! (Bring us Hasterman back, Bird!) with the author Ivan Binar, his friend and later Charter 77 signatory.[4] Schiffauer was employed as a worker and was being permanently interrogated by the State Security Police throughout the normalization era.[1] This experience was briefly summarized by Schiffauer in an interview published on YouTube in February 2019.[5]

After the Velvet Revolution, Schiffauer was allowed to complete his university education (Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts) and could fully engage himself into composition of music. He taught in the Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava and in the Silesian University in Opava.[1]

Works
Opus NumberTitleYearNotes
1Agent 3,141591969
  • This is music for a theatre play.
  • This piece was premiered on 2 December 1969 in the theatre Waterloo.[6]
2Pamphlets1969
  • Czech/original: Pamflety. This is a collection of scenic music and songs.
  • This piece was premiered on 14 January 1969 in the Theatre Waterloo.
3Son of the Regiment1969
  • Czech/original: Syn Pluku.
  • This satirical musical was the cause of Schiffauer's arrest in 1972.[1]
  • This music was premiered 1 April 1969 in the Theatre Waterloo.
4Rural Christmas Mass1969
  • Czech/original: Venkovská Vánoční mše.
  • Words by Ivan Binar.
  • This is one of Schiffauer's most well-known compositions.
  • This piece is included in a CD named "Vánoce" (Christmas) (the CD also contains op.17 and op.21) released in 1998.
  • This mass was premiered in the Church of Mokré Lazce by the Kostelní sbor a orchestr v Mokrých Lazcích (Church Choir and Orchestra of the Mokré Lazce).[7]
  • Otherwise, this composition was performed in churches of Moravia, Silesia, Poland, Slovakia and even the Netherlands and Denmark.[8]
  • This piece was also published on YouTube.[9] Listen to this mass
5Bring us Hasterman back, Bird![4]1973
  • Czech/original: Vrat' nám, ptáku, Hastermana!.
  • This is an opera for kids.
  • This is one of Schiffauer's most well-known compositions.
  • Schiffauer wrote the plot of this opera in prison with Ivan Binar.
  • This piece was released on a standalone CD named "Vrat' nám, ptáku, Hastermana!".[10]
  • This opera was premiered on 4 September 2015 in the Puppet Theatre of Ostrava.[11]
  • And under the title "Zob, Zob, Zoban!", this opera was premiered in the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre (in the Theatre of Antonín Dvořák), on 24 September 2017.[12][13] Also, under the name of "Nøkkemannen Lucian", this opera was premiered in Norway in the Ringsaker Opera Theatre, in Ringsaker, on 29 May 2019.[14]Listen to a part of this piece.[15]
6Teasing1975
  • Czech/original: Škádlení.
  • Written for 3 mixed choirs and a Capella.[16]
7Sneers1982
  • Czech/original: Jízlivosti.
  • Written for male voice and harp.
  • This Composition was premiered in 1982 in a festival named "Hudební současnost" (Musical Contemporaneity), in Ostrava.[17]
8Small Evening Entry Fees1983
  • Czech/original: Malé večerní vstupné.
  • Written for a French horn quartet.[18]
9Sonata I for Violin and Guitar[19]1984–1985–
10Zoo Suite1984
  • Czech/original: Zoologická suita.
  • Written for a brass quintet.
  • This suite was premiered in 1985 in a festival named "Hudební současnost" (Musical Contemporaneity), in Ostrava.[20]
11Hymn of Morava1985
  • Czech/original: Hymnus Moravy.
  • Written for fourteen brass instruments.[21]
12Sonatina I for French Horn and Guitar1985–
13Vzepětí String Quartet1989–
14Music to Go with White Wine (Best if from a Barrel)1992
  • Czech/original: Hudba k bílému vínu (Nejlépe sudové).
  • This composition was included in a CD.
15...and the Flower Remains1993
  • Czech/original: ...a kytička zůstává.
  • Written for flute, cello and piano.
  • Upon the death of Schiffauer's mother, Marta Schiffauerová, he was very sad. But when he composed this piece, it put his sadness aside. The origine of this title is Schiffauer's memory of his mother's funeral, at which he saw a flower that became, to him, a symbol of his mother. This is what this piece is named after.
16Crusade1994
  • Czech/original: Křížová výprava.
  • This is a scenic oratorio buffo.
17Christmas Singing at Home, or Elsewhere1994
  • Czech/original: Vánoční zpívání doma, i jinde.
  • Written for mixed choir.
  • This collection of carols from all over the world edited by Schiffauer was included in a CD named "Vánoce" (Christmas) (the CD also contains op.4 and op.21) released in 1998.
18A Hare, a Hare!1995
  • Czech/original: Zajíc, zajíc!.
  • This is music for theatre.
19Ondras and Juras, Lord of the Bald Mountain1996
  • Czech/original: Ondráš a Juráš, Pán Lysé hory.
  • This is a tragic opera comedy.
20Whispers1996
  • Czech/original: Šepoty.
  • Written for female voice and a string trio.
21Three Small Christmas Pastorels1997
  • Czech/original: Tři malé Vánoční pastorely.
  • Written for a wind octet.
  • These three pieces were included in a CD named "Vánoce" (Christmas) (the CD also contains op.4 and op.17) released in 1998.
22Clevernesses1998
  • Czech/original: Chytrosti.
  • Written for 3 female voices and a magnetic tape.
23Singing about Rusalka1998
  • Czech/original: Zpívání o Rusalce.
  • This is music for theatre and for musical preparation.
24Czardas for solo tuba1999–
25Sinful Toccata, Prelude and Toccata for Organ1999
  • Czech/original: Hříšná toccata.
26Nausikaa1999
  • This is music for theatre.
27Sonatina II for French Horn and a Student Orchestra1999–
28Returns2000
  • Czech/original: Návraty.
  • Written for solo bayan.
29Paraphrase on a Folk Song2000
  • Czech/original: Úlety s lidovou písní.
  • Written for a female vocal trio, viola and guitar.
30Pictures to Vernissage II, Correctly Music to Vernissage II2001
  • Czech/original: Obrázky k vernisáži II, správně Hudba k vernisáži II.
  • Written for harp.
31Scream2002
  • Czech/original: Výkřik.
  • Written for a string orchestra.
32Fragment of a Neu-Baroque Sonata2002
  • Czech/original: Fragment neubarokní sonáty.
  • Written for a string orchestra and violin.
33Little Moravian Suite or Moravian Suitek2006
  • Czech/original: "Moravský Suitek".
  • Written for a clarinet quartet.
  • The "Suitek" is the name of a musical form invented by Schiffauer. The suffix "-ek" indicates a diminutive in Czech. Thus, "suitek" roughly translates to "little suite."
34Chickens2006
  • Czech/original: Slépky (a dialectal word for chickens).
  • Written for three flutes, a string orchestra and a whip.
35Maid in Trouble2008
  • Czech/original: Komorná v nesnázích.
  • Written for a soprano and violin.
36Five on Five2020
  • Czech/original: Za pět na pět.
  • Written for cello, piano and percussion instruments.
  • A march composed of two movements.
37Three-Flute Pele Mele for Fiala the Rabbit2021
  • Czech/original: Třífletnové pelemele pro králíka Fialu.
  • Written for three flutes and various percussion instruments.
  • The composition is composed of six movements, each a counterpart of a chapter of a tale written by Schiffauer's friend Ivan Binar, a fellow former inmate (who also wrote, notably, the plot for Op. 5), named Králík Fiala (Fiala the Rabbit).
  • This piece has been published on YouTube.[22] Listen to this work.
38Transatlantic Serenade2020-2022
  • Czech/original: Serenáda transatlantická.
  • Written for solo piano.
  • Collaborative composition involving Schiffauer as well as his great-nephew Jakub Edward Schiffauer Medraj and his brother Leopold Jiří Schiffauer, whereby each composer wrote a continuation, however long as deemed natural, on material written by another participant precedingly. This was carried out in 2020–2021, the three composers sending each other their continuations back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean (hence the title). Later, in 2022, the entirety of the work was revised and molded together by Schiffauer Medraj, filling gaps, rearranging, and adding more coherent transitions as suit a more natural flow of the music.

Unknown Dates
TitleNotes
But I, I...
  • Czech/original: Ale já přece....
  • This is a dark grotesque opera.
Just like Tree Trunks
  • Czech/original: Jako kmeny stromů.
  • Written for a symphonic orchestra.
Jotunheimen, Sonata II for Solo Cello–
Moravian Boy on a Crossing in Sydney
  • Czech/original: Kluk z Moravy na přechodu v Sydney.
  • Written for solo piano.
About Love with Us
  • Czech/original: O lásce u nás.
  • Written for voice and piano.
A Fairytale about Love, Fantasy in three Parts
  • Czech/original: Pohádka o lásce, fantazie ve třech částech.
  • This piece appeared in a CD released in 2011 named "Czech and Moravian Oboe Music".[23]
  • This composition was once performed on 11 January 2013 by Czech oboist Marlen Vavriková in the Madsen Recital and was assisted by BYU faculty pianist Jeffrey Shumway.[24]
Seven Variations for Piano
  • Czech/original: Sedm variací pro klavír.
The Happy Prince
Monologue from Mrštík brothers' play for solo voice Maryša[25]
  • This piece was premiered on 13 November 2019 in the Gallery, Academy of Performing Arts.[25]
Brenpartija, Scenes from Slag Heap

References
  1. "Edvard Schiffauer (1942)". memoryofnations.eu.
  2. "MGR. Edvard Schiffauer – LKMŠ Ostrava".
  3. "Životopis Edvarda Schiffauera" (PDF).
  4. "Schiffauer, Binar: Vrať nám, ptáku, hastrmana (představení není v současné době na repertoáru)". Dismanův rozhlasový dětský soubor. 7 January 2008.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS6MtB0LClU. YouTube (28 February 2019). Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  6. "Agent 3,14159 – hudba k představení (1969) :: Edvard Schiffauer". m.schiffauer.webnode.cz.
  7. "Venkovská vánoční mše, pro sm. sbor, symf. orch. a varh. | musicbase.cz". musicbase.cz.
  8. Kristýna Vladíková. Písňová tvorba Edvarda Schiffauera, pp. 17-18
  9. "Chrámový sbor a orchestr v Hluku: Venkovská vánoční mše – půlnoční 2015" – via YouTube.
  10. "Ivan Binar, Edvard Schiffauer, Dismanův Rozhlasový Dětský Soubor, Petr Matuszek, Archioni Plus, Michal Macourek – Vrať Nám, Ptáku, Hastrmana". Discogs. 2009.
  11. "Vrať nám, ptáku, hastrmana". dlo-ostrava.cz.
  12. "Zob, zob, zoban!!! (Edvard schiffauer)". operamusica.com.
  13. Bátor, Milan. "Se skladatelem Edvardem Schiffauerem na pár slov před premiérou dětské operky Zob, zob, Zoban!!!". ostravan.cz.
  14. "Tsjekkisk kulturuke | Ringsakeroperaen – Operaglede for scene og sal". Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  15. "Edvard Schiffauer". schiffauer.webnode.cz.
  16. "Škadleni". musicbase.cz.
  17. "Jízlivosti, pro mužský hlas a harfu". musicbase.cz.
  18. "Malé večerní vstupné, pro 4 lesní rohy. | musicbase.cz". musicbase.cz.
  19. "Sonáta pro housle a kytaru | musicbase.cz". musicbase.cz.
  20. "Zoologická suita pro žesťové kvinteto | musicbase.cz". musicbase.cz.
  21. "Hymnus Moravy, pro 14 žesťových nástrojů. | musicbase.cz". musicbase.cz.
  22. "Three-Flute Pele Mele for Fiala the Rabbit". Retrieved 24 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  23. "Czech And Moravian Oboe Music – Centaur Records: CRC 3079". ArkivMusic.
  24. "Czech oboist Marlen Vavriková plans BYU recital 11 Jan". 4 January 2013.
  25. "Days of Contemporary Music: new pieces by Karel Mirošník, Marek Pavlíček and Edvard Schiffauer". musica.cz. 14 November 2019.
  26. "Janáčkův máj se vydal za brenparťáky ze struskové haldy". ČT24. Česká televize.
  27. "Opera Brenpartija pojednává o ostravských bezdomovcích ze struskové haldy". Novinky.cz.
  28. "Aréna – Brenpartija". divadloarena.cz.
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