Luboš Sluka

Born to the family of Antonín Sluka, an amateur musician, Luboš Sluka found his way to music and piano already in his childhood.

At first, however, he worked in his hometown of Opočno as a typographer, and conducted local vocal groups. Only at the age of twenty-two did he enter the Prague Conservatory. He attended this school from 1950 to 1955, studying conducting with Bohumil Špidra and Alois Klíma, percussion with E. Špaček, and composition with František Pícha and Miroslav Krejčí.

After graduation, he continued his studies at the Music Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts where he was taught by Jaroslav Řídký and from 1956 by Pavel Bořkovec. He also studied film and incidental music under Václav Trojan. For a short time Sluka was employed by the Czech Television as a dramaturge (1962–1963). He co-founded and was the general editor of Panton, the publishing house of the Czech Music Fund (1969–1976) where he particularly promoted Bohuslav Martinů’s music.

He also assisted with the sound editing phase of several cartoon films by Jiří Trnka in the Trick Brothers Studio. Since 1977 he has devoted himself fully to composing. Sluka’s output comprises orchestral and chamber music, compositions for solo instruments, songs, and choral pieces. His musical speech always retains its loosely tonal quality. In terms of his invention Sluka is sometimes said to draw on Janáček.

He has composed music to several hundreds of short-footage films, full-length pictures, and TV programmes. He is also the author of numerous works for children, e.g. Piano Study Guides for Pre-School Children (Klavírní školičky pro děti předškolního věku), musicals, and popular music.

Titles for sale:
Suite from Eastern Bohemia

Titles for hire - see Complete catalogue