Annual List of Works: Czech Music Information Center

Title
O Pater

Composer
Tomas Palka, 21-02-1978, Czech, Oty Pavla 32/9, 27343 Bustehrad

Genre
choir

Instrumentation
SATB (4x4x4x4)

Year of composition
2003

Duration
ca 11 minutes

Place of premiere performance
not yet performed Concert Hall, City

Score
Publisher : own printing
URL: www.tomaspalka.com

Recording
Record company: computer version

Motivation
Compositions draw inspiration from an extra-musical program, very often inspired by intellectual or sacred themes. They are projected in the area of musical tectonics (lower dynamics, work with space and time) and to the contents of compositions – use of spiritual texts (poems). Compositions are directed towards slight, introvert and contemplative levels. Pálka is interested in possibilities of unusual technique of playing instruments and confrontations with the contents of the programme. With music form, he inclines to solid (mono-thematic) forms and to the development of musical contrasts, bearing in mind the overall cohesion of music sections. The contrast is unwound through musical microelements.
To my music ideals belong composers like Anton von Webern, Morton Feldman, Giacinto Scelsi, György Ligeti, Witold Lutoslawski, Pavel Zemek-Novák, Olivier Messiaen, Arvo Pärt, György Kurtág, Kaija Saariaho…

Programme note
Composition was created in 2003 for chamber or large mix choir. Text is taken from poem of czech poet Zdenek Vlof. All the composition increase from one chord from the beginning. Material is reduced like the poem, which is very brief but very profound at the same time.

Composer Biography
Tomáš Pálka studied composition at Academy of Performing Arts in Prague with Prof. Marek Kopelent (graduated 2005). He continues his studies in postgraduate degree with Prof. Slavický. He is a co-founder of Konvergence and also a member of its ensemble playing violin and piano. He is engaged in pedagogical activity at the conservatory in Brno (music theory) and at the music school in Prague (composition and improvisation).