Petr Eben facts for kids

Petr Eben (born January 22, 1929, in Žamberk; died October 24, 2007, in Prague) was a famous Czech composer and organ player. Many people who love music believe he was one of the most important Czech composers of the late 1900s. He was known all over the world for how well he played the organ. He was also amazing at making up music on the spot, which is called improvisation.

Petr Eben's Early Life

Petr Eben grew up in a town called Český Krumlov in southern Bohemia. He started learning to play the piano when he was young. Later, he also learned to play the cello and the organ.

In 1943, when he was a teenager, his life changed. Because his father was Jewish, Petr had to leave school. He then spent the rest of World War II in a concentration camp called Buchenwald. This was a very difficult and sad time. He saw many terrible things there. These experiences deeply affected him and later influenced the music he wrote.

Petr Eben had a very strong faith. This helped him stay strong during the 40 years he lived in Czechoslovakia under communist rule. It was a time when people had less freedom.

His Studies and Career

After the war ended, Petr Eben went to the Prague Academy for Music. He studied piano with a teacher named František Rauch. He also learned how to compose music with Pavel Bořkovec.

In 1955, he got a job as a teacher at Charles University in Prague. He worked there until 1990. Even though he was one of the best composers in the country, the communist leaders did not allow him to get promoted. This was because he and his family went to church every Sunday, which was not encouraged by the communist government.

A National Hero

Things changed for Petr Eben after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. This was when his country became free from the Soviet Union. After this, he became a national hero. He was made a Professor of Composition. He also became the president of the Prague Spring Music Festival, which is a very important event.

Many music festivals started playing his compositions. Even though he was getting sick, he traveled to hear his music performed. His music was often played in England. He had spent two years there, from 1978 to 1979. During that time, he was a professor of composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

In March 2007, the BBC Symphony Orchestra performed one of his works. It was called Vox Clamantis. He had written this piece in 1968. It showed the Czech people's strong wish to be free.

Petr Eben's Music

Petr Eben kept developing his unique musical style throughout his life. He was very interested in Czech folk music. He even wrote down many folk songs he heard in Moravia. He also listened to plainchant in church music. All these different sounds helped him create his own special way of composing.

He is most famous around the world for his organ music. Some of his well-known organ pieces include:

• Musica Dominicalis (which means Sunday Music). This includes a popular piece called Moto Ostinato.
• Faust (written in 1980)
• Job (written in 1987)
• A Festive Voluntary. This piece is a set of variations on the tune of Good King Wenceslas. He wrote it in 1986 for the reopening of the organ at Chichester Cathedral after it had been fixed.

Petr Eben also wrote a lot of music for orchestras. He composed chamber music too, which is music for a small group of instruments. He created beautiful music for children's choirs, including church music called Liturgical Songs.