Karel Husa’s Divertimento for Brass and Percussion: A Study in Context, Composition, and Performance

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kevin Geraldi, Associate Director of Bands and Director of Orchestral Activities (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Karel Husa's Divertimento for Brass and Percussion is intimately connected to the composer's personal life and his Czech heritage, and it has become one of his most frequently performed works. Husa intended this music to be accessible for all levels of musicians and audiences, and in the almost fifty years since its composition, the Divertimento has been arranged for greatly varied media, both by the composer himself and by third-party arrangers. Arrangements of the Divertimento exist for brass quintet, brass quintet with percussion, wind ensemble, and a trio of flute, clarinet, and piano. Considering that the work originated as a salon-style suite of piano duets, that it has enjoyed a vibrant afterlife is indicative of the broad appeal of Husa's music. This article will contextualize the origins of the work and its various versions, analyze the brass/percussion version both as an independent work and in comparison to the original piano duets, and explore the rehearsal strategies necessary for a successful performance based upon the insights of Karel Husa and the experiences of the author.

Additional Information

Publication
The Journal of Band Research. Vol. 43, No. 2, Spring 2008
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Karel Husa, Divertimento for Brass and Percussion, Rehearsal strategies, Performance

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