Jan Kucera
THE JOKER

Conductor, composer and pianist Jan Kucera (*1977, Klatovy) works as an author in several different genres - symphonic works (the symphonic fantasy Absinth, Malostranske variace - Mala Strana Variations for chamber orchestra, Suite concertante for string quartet and orchestra), chamber pieces (Full House for string quintet), songs (Songs after Joyce for soprano and piano), and he also writes incidental music for productions staged by Prague and regional theatres. Jan Kucera has come up with numerous musical arrangements, his repertoire also includes jazz.

The composition The Joker for trumpet and piano was commissioned in 2009 by the Prague Spring International Music Competition for the year 2010 as the second round compulsory work. The composer describes this piece with the words: "Playfulness is what's really important. A sense of humour. Self-irony. Facetiousness. A little imp running around in your head. But there has to be a sense of fair play. This is the Joker. This is your Joker..."

H 8001, ISMN 979-0-2601-0485-3, 20 pages, price 25 EUR  BUY