Scan 79
Groves Dictionary Of Music And Musicians,vol.3, 1907
18 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1KOVAŘOVIC
3symbol of a watch-dog's head. But in 1695 Austrian oppression touched its zenith, and the Chods were stripped of their privileges and treated with brutal injustice by their Governor, the implacable Laminger von Albenreuth, called 'Lomikar' by the Slavonic peasants. The judicial murder of one of their leaders, Kozina, who remains to this day a traditional local hero, furnishes material for a touching and dramatic libretto. The homely and historical setting of the story may possibly limit its universal significance, while offering as compensation many picturesque suggestions—the local costumes, dances and scenery; but the emotional scope is profound and untrammeled. There are stirring moments in 'Psohlavci': the mock trial scene in which the peasants' cherished charter is torn to shreds by the partial judge; the tense mental agony of the prison scene, when Kozina refuses pardon at the price of his honour; the sudden death of the sinister Lomikar in the banquet hall—these are strong situations, and Kovařovic knew how to make them not merely effective, but poignant. Here he sloughs off the facile eclecticism of earlier years and produces music of real value.
5While aiming to follow in some respects the operatic traditions of Smetana, Kovařovic could not, because of his delicate and distinguished musical personality, prevent his own work from taking a more modern and individual form. Between the master and the disciple lies the development of a whole generation. The immediate success of 'Psohlavci' was sensational, and its popularity has lasted over a quarter of a century. Kovařovic followed this dramatic opera by a completely contrasting work. 'Na starém Bělidle' (At the Old Bleaching House), the libretto founded on Mme. Němcova's novel of rural life, Babička (Grannie), is not so much an opera as a series of idyllic scenes from the life of an earlier generation, enveloped in a tender and delicate musical tissue, shot through with the colour of the folk music, a little reminiscent of Massenet, and touched with a wistful calm and mellow beauty which, emanating from the personality of Grannie, pervades the entire work. A few gay dances, the singing of the girls as they spin by the light of the log fire in Grannie's bleaching house, the brightness of the costumes, and the atmosphere of youth contrasted with that of serene old age, all combine to make a delicate little poem of 'Na starém Bělidle.'
7Among Kovařovic's miscellaneous works are the symphonic poem 'The Rape of Persephone' (1884), dramatic overture in C minor, incidental music to Šubert's play Raphael's Loves, and to Vojnovic's 'Equinox,' a violin sonata in F, a pianoforte concerto in F minor, string quartets in A minor, G major and E flat, romance for clarinet, a few charming songs in the national style, including the popular 'Slovak Song,' to words by Destinnova, one or two melodramas and small choral works.
9Kovařovic visited England in May 1919, when, with the orchestra of the Prague National Opera, he took part in the Czechoslovak Musical Festival in London. He was already in failing health, and a few months later underwent a severe operation which did little to alleviate his sufferings. He died at the age of 58, just at the time when the newly-won independence of Bohemia gave every hope that his devoted service to his country's art might become more widely appreciated.
11R. N.
13KOVEN, HENRY LOUIS REGINALD DE (b. Middletown, Connecticut, Apr. 3, 1859; d. Chicago, Jan. 16, 1920), an American composer, chiefly of comic operas and songs. He studied at St. John's College, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1879, and then devoted himself to music successively at Stuttgart, Frankfort, Florence, Vienna and Paris. He composed many light operas, beginning with 'The Begum' in 1887. By far the most successful of them was 'Robin Hood,' first heard in 1890, and for many seasons thereafter in America, and given in London as 'Maid Marion.' His 'Rob Roy' (1894), also gained considerable success. In 1902 De Koven formed the Philharmonic Orchestra in Washington, D.C., which he conducted for two seasons. In the season of 1916-17 his grand opera, 'The Canterbury Pilgrims,' was produced at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York; a second grand opera, 'Rip Van Winkle,' was produced in Chicago and in New York by the Chicago Opera Company in 1920. De Koven was also a fertile writer of songs; of 400 which he composed, some have gained a remarkable popularity. He had a gift for facile melody and, to a certain extent, for characterisation in comedy. But his powers did not extend to the successful creation of operas in the larger forms. His two 'grand operas,' comedies on a larger scale, show fundamental weaknesses; and especially in the matter of ensemble writing and orchestral scoring.
15R. A.
17KOŽELUH (Ger. KOTZELUCH), (1) JOHANN ANTON (b. Welwarn, Dec. 13, 1738; d. Prague, Feb. 3, 1814), Bohemian musician, was choirmaster first at Rakonitz and then at Welwarn Desirous of further instruction he went to Prague and Vienna, where he was kindly received by Gluck and Gassmann, was appointed choirmaster of the Kreuzherrn church, Prague; and on Mar.13, 1784, Kapellmeister to the cathedral, which post he retained till his death. He composed church-music, operas and oratorios, of which very little was published. Q.-L. gives a cantata for soprano, op. 7, as published by
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.