Lubos Fiser (born on September 30th 1935, died on June 22nd 1999 in Prague), studied composition with Emil Hlobil both at the Prague Conservatory (1952-56) and at the Academy of Performing Arts (graduated 1960). His graduation work, the one-act opera Lancelot, has already featured the substance of his musical expression - it is based on a melody supporting themes, formulated often in a very lapidary way which is then developed with complex and non-traditional way of compositional thinking. The effect of his music is both simple and complex at the same time as though to be chiselled from stone. He started off from the post-romantic music tradition (two symphonies, Suite for orchestra, Sonnets to texts by Michelangelo, and other works composed at the end of the fifties), and his own opinion and style prevails in the early sixties. Key works of that period are Fifteen Prints after Durer’s Apocalypse and choral Caprichos, inspired by Goya’s cycle of paintings. These compositions had considerable international response. The Fifteen Prints won the first prize in a UNESCO international composer’s tribune held in Paris in 1967. Both these works have a tendency towards new expressional and compositional means, in particular the use of the relaxed structure of aleatoric technique. Although that method accentuates sonic component of musical structure, Fiser maintains his own approach. The key melodic theme, its repetition and transformation, continues to be the backbone of his works.
I am certain that although most people here probably haven't heard about Lubos Fiser or are familiar with any films he worked on, his lyrical style (like Czech Delerue a little bit) would be very appreciated if any of his music would be available.
I discovered his music one year ago and was blown away by the lyricism and melodies which sound like Delerue from time to time. I wanted to write an article about this great composer for an European magazine but unfortunately it is nearly impossible to get large photos and detailed informations about him...
Yes, for those of you who haven’t heard any of Fiser’s scores, you are really missing some wonderfully crafted music…of course, only having one commercial score released (on LP, later on CD) doesn’t gain him many admirers.
Lokutus has provided a nice cross-section of his works from YouTube videos, and as he has stated, there are a lot more to be viewed/heard.
Among my own favourites are (and I hope the links here work!)…
I have enjoyed Fiser’s music from the above mentioned films (and many others), so much, that I ripped the soundtracks and carefully edited-around any sfx and dialogue. At this time, I must have about 2 CDRs worth of his main/end title pieces.
BTW Lokutus, wasn’t “Jak sel Kuba ke Krakonosovi pro Poklad” (as well as the other Krakonos films) scored by Vadim Petrov?
Many,many thanks for bringing up the name and career of a sadly neglected, but great film composer.
'Fiser' means 'farting' in Norwegian, but other than that piece of silly information - thanks for the recommendation! Always nice to be introduced to a composer you've only marginally heard of before.
"Fifteen Prints after Durer’s Apocalypse" is the striking modern concert piece that first drew me to Lubos Fiser's work. Thanks to all who posted excerpts from his movie scores or links to them. I must admit, though, that I was shocked to hear how simplistic and anodyne the music is, nothing like his concert work. Is there any other movie composer with such a sharp divide in style between his "classical" music and his movie scores?
Well done Lokutus for trying to raise the profile of this brilliant composer. And how tragic and remarkable it is that from so many scores only 1 soundtrack has been released. We can only hope that an enterprising music company somewhere takes a gamble and releases more of his work, a compilation with some of his best scores would be a good start. If anybody is reading this and is interested, make sure you get VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS (the cd and the dvd). It is a simply superb. Dave.
"Fifteen Prints after Durer’s Apocalypse" is the striking modern concert piece that first drew me to Lubos Fiser's work. Thanks to all who posted excerpts from his movie scores or links to them. I must admit, though, that I was shocked to hear how simplistic and anodyne the music is, nothing like his concert work. Is there any other movie composer with such a sharp divide in style between his "classical" music and his movie scores?
Yes. Georges Delerue. Just listen to his String Quartets compared to his melodic, sensious, romantic, lush film scores. Wow!
"Fifteen Prints after Durer’s Apocalypse" is the striking modern concert piece that first drew me to Lubos Fiser's work. Thanks to all who posted excerpts from his movie scores or links to them. I must admit, though, that I was shocked to hear how simplistic and anodyne the music is, nothing like his concert work. Is there any other movie composer with such a sharp divide in style between his "classical" music and his movie scores?
Yes. Georges Delerue. Just listen to his String Quartets compared to his melodic, sensious, romantic, lush film scores. Wow!
Hi Stephan, yes, find the larger photo is very hard. I know, that there has been a thesis "Film music of Lubos Fiser", but is in Czech only.
I discovered his music one year ago and was blown away by the lyricism and melodies which sound like Delerue from time to time. I wanted to write an article about this great composer for an European magazine but unfortunately it is nearly impossible to get large photos and detailed informations about him...
Finders Keepers plans to release Fiser´s score for Morgiana (and other Czech film music from the 60s and 70s). This is mentioned in the liner notes of the German Valerie-DVD (which includes the score as a bonus).
Wow, what superb music. Many thanks again for raising the profile of this composer. I wonder what happened to that planned Finders Keepers cd of another Fiser score? It is a tragedy more of his work is not available.
Well, the CD including Fišer's MORGIANA and Liška's THE CREMATOR is currently planned as September 30th release. Unless it gets delayed between now and currently planned release date... it is already available to pre-order at Amazon UK:
I've just discovered this composer through a recently released record of the Morgiana score. I love the fact that there is still great stuff to discover in soundtracks. This guy is very very good and should get more appreciation.
