Sláva Vorlová

Among the older generation of Czech female composers, Sláva Vorlová (1894–1973) has a key (while still rather unique) position. Her musical talent was universal: she studied singing, piano and composition – first as a private student of Vítězslav Novák, later she graduated from the composition class of Prague Conservatoire lead by Jaroslav Řídký.

Vorlová left us almost one hundred compositions rich in genres. It includes stage works, orchestral, chamber and vocal compositions. Most of her compositions build on the traditional style that was typical for both of her teachers, Novák and Řídký. However, in 1960s, she became interested in contemporary compositional techniques, serialism and aleatoric music, and she created many remarkable compositions in this area.

In 1960s, her friendship and cooperation with Josef Horák (1931–2005), the famous Czech bass clarinettist and founder of the world-known ensemble Due Boemi di Praga, started. She composed several chamber compositions for him, as well as Concerto for Bass Clarinet and String Orchestra (op. 50 from 1961) that is considered the first composition of this kind worldwide.

Titles for sale:
Miniatures for Bass Clarinet (or Bassoon) and Piano, op. 55
Variations on a Theme by Händel for Bass Clarinet and Piano