Jan Jirásek

composer (born 1955)

Born January in Rychnov nad Kneznou, Czech Republic, Mr. Jirasek graduated at the Janácek Academy of Musical Art in Brno (JAMU), composition with Prof. Zdeněk Zouhar as well as electro-acoustic, computer and electronic music and music theory.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain Jirasek’s music was widely performed at the following festivals: “Synthese 90” Festival in Bourges; “Elektronmusik Festival” Stockholm; “ler Colloque International des jeunes Compositeurs de Musique Electro-accoustique 1991,” UNESCO in Paris; Prague Spring Festival; Schleswig - Holstein Festival; “Czechoslovak Night” Munich 1990; Munich Bienale (for two times), Plymouth Music Series Minneapolis, MN, USA, Summer Music Symposium Colorado Springs, etc.

Jan Jirásek was commissioned to write for well-known institutions and performers: Kulturkreis Gasteig e.V. commissioned “Bread and Circuses” for six percussionists for the Munich Biennale 1992. Kulturkreis Gasteig e.V. commissioned recomposition of the World War II destroyed piece of Carl Orff (“St. Luke Passion” according to the manuscript of J.S.Bach), Duo Quattro mani commissioned piece for 2 pianos, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra commissioned a piece for chamber orchestra, Festival “Voor de Vind” commissioned a piece “Viribus unitis” (for organ and tuba) etc.

Jirásek is frequently invited to international radio and television discussions and interviews: Hessen Radio, Bavarian Radio, Czech Radio Prague, Radio Free Europe, Czech Television Prague, Spanish Television Madrid, Ars Electronica Linz (four times), UNESCO Paris, Minnesota Public Radio, etc. Mr. Jirasek’s music was recorded on labels like BMG Classics (the CD “Renaissance of Humanity” with music by Jan Jirásek, Arvo Pärt and Hildegard von Bingen), BMG-Ariola (the CD “Bread and Circuses”), etc. Jan Jirasek won Fulbright Fellowship and spent the academic year 1996-97 as a visiting professor of composition in USA (Hartt School of Music, University of Colorado at Boulder). Mr. Jirasek writes a lot for films. He was awarded with the prestigious film music prize “The Czech Lion” for movie “An Ambiguous Report About the End of the World” (dir. Juraj Jakubisko) and for movie “Kytice” (Wild Flowers) – dir. F. A. Brabec

Titles for sale:
Castles in the Air
Viribus unitis

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