SVEJKOVSKÝ, JOSEF (1938-2009)

Joseph Svejkovský (1938-2009) was one of the most distinguished Czech solo trumpet performers in the Czech Republic and comes from a musical family with a long standing musical tradition. He graduated from the Prague Conservatory of Music and Prague Academy of Arts. At age 24, he participated in the Prague Spring International Competition.

 

As a premiere chamber music performer, he was active in many symphony orchestras in his native land.  As a recitalist, performed the entire European trumpet repertoire. His endeavors in music included the whole spectrum of music making classical, symphonic, folk, liturgical, popular, and jazz.

 

Josef Svejkovský is acknowledged as an enlightened trumpet historian, possessing a large variety of instruments with which he demonstrated for school children and professional clinics. As an artist, he possessed the skill of performing a wide variety of trumpets from folk shepherd horns to those requiring the most contemporary techniques. Evidence of his artistry is preserved on various professional phonograph, cassette, and CD recordings. He is the recipient of many honors.

 

From 1971, he had been active as Professor of Trumpet at the Prague Conservatory of Music. In 1968, he founded the Prague Brass Quintet which was the first of its type in his country, and in 1976, Prague Trumpeters Ensemble. He worked as a free lance artist in Europe and was head of a music school in the Czech Republic until his retirement. Josef Svejkovský was one of the world's foremost trumpet educators.

 

"Podbrdský Kvapík" was written for his folk ensemble from Těně in 1985. This is the region of his family ancestry. Alliance Publications, Inc. is proud to publish it for many other groups to enjoy with zest, good humor, and fun. This is truly in keeping with the composer's spirit and legacy.