Musicologica Olomucensia

Stanislav Vrbík and Music in Olomouc Cathedral in 1975-1985

Pianist, organist, conductor, composer, poet and prose writer, Stanislav Vrbík (1907, Jablunkov - 1987, Olomouc) was linked with the choir of St Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc from 1928, when he accepted the post of organist and auxiliary choralist. When in 1975 he took over the conducting of the cathedral chlor from Gustav Pivoňka, this body had 17 members including four choralists. They performed about twenty times a year. It should be noted that due to the advanced age of the singers, the choir was already past its musical zenith. The cathedral choir was abolished in 1985. Its role was taken over by a parish schola, originally a girls' choir, led by Jan Kupka. Stanislav Vrbík deserves credit for the development of concert activities in Olomouc because in 1977-1985 he gave organ, choral, chamber and Christmas nocturnes in the cathedral. In the repertoire he followed the tradition of his predecessor, introducing mostly works by Czech composers, such as B. Bakala, V. Čajanek, P. Eben, J. Gruber, V. E. Horák, F. Kolařík, J. Nešvera, F. Picka, V. Říhovský, K. Stecker, E. Tregler and B. A. Wiedermann. Last but not least, the choir master used the choir for premieres of his own masses and cantatas Faith - Hope - Love op. 115, Guard and Celebration op. 117, Message of the Victim op. 130. In addition to minor religious compositions, S. Vrbík is the composer of 17 mass cycles and 15 spiritual cantatas. His style of composition is illustrated through the antiphon Saint Wenceslas, The Czech St Peter's Mass op. 114, and the cantata Message of the Victim op. 130.