Beschrijving

Pavel Stanék was born in 1927 in Prague. He finished his studies at the conservatory there, in 1950, and from this year up to 1954 he was conductor of the Folk Ensemble. During his military service he conducted the Central Band of the Ministery of the Interior and was their director and artistic leader almost for almost six years. From 1961 to 1963 he was conductor of the light opera theatre “Na Fidlovacce” and in 1963 he was appointed as director of the Ostrava Radio Orchestra, until 1990. During this period and after he was often invited as guest conductor. As a composer, Pavel Stanék influenced the development of wind music by his extraordinary compositions. He was often inspired by folk music of his homeland.

Handel’s Grands Concertos, Op. 6 deviate considerably from the established type of the concerto grosso ; they rather are a combination of suites and concertos. Why are these remarks appropriate? Well, the idea for “Un poco larghetto” struck Pavel Stanìk when he listened to a CD-performance of the Concerto grosso in D, Op. 6 No. 5 under the baton of Herbert von Karajan, and there it was especially the 6th movement “ Minuet –Un poco larghetto” that thrilled him. This piece became a charming work for winds in Stanìk’s fine arrangement for band.