Educational Tour Jihlava’s Musical Personages

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Educational (Tour) Jihlava’s Musical Personages www.visitjihlava.eu

Educational Tour Jihlava’s Musical Personages The musical tradition of Jihlava reaches back to the 16th century known in Jihlava as the “great” century. During that era, the town became the largest center of the textile industry (drapery) in central Europe. Numerous other trades reached their boom during those years, too, such as the tinsmiths, goldsmiths, milliners, and beer brewers. Economic development initiated development in the sector of education, architecture, and culture. In 1571, the municipal council permitted – after repeated applications – the founding of a fellowship of mastersingers.

The fellowship organized four public performances annually. Their last festive performance took place in 1620 and the last public appearance was held on the occasion of the burial of a master draper and member of the fellowship, Abraham Letscher, in 1621.

In the 18th century, the church of Virgin Mary’s Assumption earned fame as a vocal center under the guidance of regenschori Ladislav Spinar and father Donat.

In the years of 1728–34 studied in the then-German high school Jan Václav Stamic, founder of the Mannheim school. Further development of the town’s musical tradition was recorded in the 19th century. In 1819, a Music Society (MusikVerein) was founded, with the aim to support education and enlightenment in music in the town. Membership in the Society was mostly the privilege of the town’s burgess society. The Society’s existence was supported by the officers of the local military corps, especially, Johann Franz Kempen von Fichtenstamm. From 1820, the director of the Society was Jan Ferdinand Pokorný, and the high professional quality of its musical productions was credited to a number of musicians and pedagogues: e.g., father Evermond, Eduard Baťka, and Viktorin Maťocha. In 1825, another important musical ensemble was founded: the Male Choral Society, whose choirmaster, Heinrich Fischer, was elected in 1858. A fundamental influence on the development of cultural life in Jihlava had the bands of the individual military regiments serving in Jihlava. This very environment, as well as concrete personages, had a major effect on the formation of musical talent of the music composer Gustav Mahler, who lived in Jihlava in the years of 1860–1875.

During the second half of the 19th century, the cultural life of Jihlava witnessed a strong assertion of the Bohemian element: it started with the founding of Beseda Jihlavská, which cooperated with other cultural ensembles, primarily Školská Matice Jihlavská and Jihlavská Budeč Association. Towards the end of the 19th century, Jihlava offered rich cultural and musical environment that gave incentive to many talents, offered opportunities for creating and promoting noble arts, and encouraged interest in education.

Jihlava’s cultural and musical traditions continued to develop even in the subsequent years. This is demonstrated, for example, in the existence of the international festival Music of Thousands (“Hudba Tisíců”) Mahler Jihlava, which has been held annually since 2000, hosting interpreters of national and global fame.

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1 The Gustav Mahler House The family of the music composer Gustav Mahler came to Jihlava on October 22, 1860, and moved into this house in former Brtnická Street. Gustav’s musical talent was apparent from early childhood – he tried to play the piano at the age of four years and is said to have “concerted” on an accordion for the market women at the age of five in the town square. His father supported his musical talent and found him music teachers. The greatest credit for little Gustav’s musical growth had Heinrich Fischer, regenschori at the St. Jacob Church and choirmaster of the Male Choral Society, who lived next door to the Mahlers.

Gustav Mahler at 5 years of age Heinrich Fischer Lower part of the town square with marketplace

View of St. Jacob Church from Heulos Park

2 The St. Jacob Church The St. Jacob Church was consecrated in 1257 by bishop Bruno von Schauenburg of Olomouc. In 1870, Heinrich Fischer was appointed as regenschori at the church. Fischer was a prominent protagonist of Jihlava’s cultural life in the second half of the 1800’s. He participated in the founding of the Male Choral Society and was elected his choirmaster in 1858. He organized fundraising opera concerts and choral festivals, where sophisticated opera pieces were presented. Equally significant is his composition work, particularly male choirs, many of them in folklore style, numerous dance compositions, and concertos for oboe. It was Fischer who helped create Gustav Mahler’s globally famous compositions.

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3 The Former Choir Hall (Sängerhalle) of the Male Choral Society The Male Choral Society (Männergesang-Verein) was founded in 1852, thanks to the initiative of Franz Steiner and Heinrich Fischer. Initially, the programs of their concerts concentrated on choral singing, but later on their public performances were enriched with chamber music, solo singing, as well as orchestral compositions. The Society reached its peak at the turn of the 1870’s and 1880‘s, when it collaborated closely with Viennese artists and the musical scene of Brno. In 1885, the Society bought the hitherto rented premises called Sängerhalle in Hluboká Street, where it held garden concerts.

Former Sängerhalle of the Male Choral Society Members of the Male Choral Society in the garden of Sängerhalle

Building of former German High school, currently Municipal Library

4 The Municipal Library The building of the current Municipal Library was built in the years of 1720– 27 as Jesuit high school. In September 1869, Gustav Mahler enrolled in the then-German high school. He finished his studies there in the 6th grade.

From 1875, because he began to attend classes at the music conservatory in Vienna, he studied the last two years of his secondary education as a private student in Jihlava. He postponed his graduation that was scheduled for July 6, 1877, to September 12 of that year. During his high school days, he formed several long-lasting friendships with his fellow students – among them were his life-long friends Josef Steiner, Quido Adler, Emil Feud, and above all Theodor Fischer, son of his music teacher, Heinrich Fischer.

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Military parade on upper town square, turn of the 19th and 20th century

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Holy Cross Church with the barracks

The Military Band Tradition Military bands in Europe enjoyed unprecedented boom in the 19th century.

Jihlava, too, was inseparably associated with military garrisons, as soldiers and their families formed a significant part of the town’s population.

Jihlava had been a garrison town since 1751. Due to a reform of the army in 1851, solely graduates of music conservatories could conduct military bands, which led a major improvement in the quality of musical productions. The performances of the 69th infantry regiment stationed in Velké Kasárny (Grand Barracks) in Křížová Street became inseparable part of Jihlava’s cultural life. The band performed over thirty concerts a year, over ten of them in cooperation with the Male Choral Society. Notable were also the military bands of other military formations.

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Besední Dům, opened in 1894

The Former Beseda House During the second half of the 19th century emerged a very strong emancipation movement in Bohemia. This trend took on a concrete form shortly thereafter, upon the founding of Beseda Jihlavská, a society that was to become the main center of Bohemian cultural life in Jihlava. In 1894, its homestead named Besední Dům (Beseda House) was ceremoniously opened in today’s Svobody town square. It contained a reading room, restaurant, conference hall, and hall for theater performances and concerts.

Beseda Jihlavská collaborated closely with other Bohemian associations and societies with the aim of promulgating quality Bohemian arts. Furthermore, Beseda Jihlavská organized, e.g., violin virtuoso recitals of František Ondříček and concerts of the Bohemian String Quartet. Thus, Jihlava’s citizens had a chance to be acquainted not only with the symphonic music of Antonín Dvořák, but also meet the composer personally.

Membership pass of a Jihlavská Beseda member

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7 Jihlava’s Horácké Theater The history of theatrical arts as part of Jihlava’s cultural life can be traced back to the era before the White Mountain Battle. The first quasi-permanent theater stage was operated by Jihlava’s Jesuits. In addition to their religiously oriented theater performance, there also existed secular ones.

In 1793, the St. Alžběta (Elizabeth) Chapel next to the former hospital, across from the current theater, was converted into a theater. However, before long, these premises proved to be inconvenient. Therefore, from 1825 theater performance were held in the hall of the Three Counts Inn (“U Tří Knížat“)1. By mid-1800’s – with Jihlava being the third largest city in Bohemia, after Prague and Brno – the need for having a theater stage that would reflect the town’s importance at the time became quite urgent.

In 1850, the entrepreneur J. E. Okonsky bought the former Capuchin monastery in today’s Komenského Street and had it converted into a theater.

The first performance was held there on November 16, 1850. In 1856, the municipality bought the theater and took over its administration2. On October 13, 1870, Gustav Mahler held a concert. It was his first public appearance – the Jihlava newspaper prophesied a great future for the talented musician already then3. The theater building underwent multiple repairs, but the most fundamental reconstruction was realized in the 1920’s and included demolition of the old stage and construction of a new theater.

Theater building, converted from former Capuchin Monastery in 1850 Former Jewish Synagogue, burnt in 1939

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8 The Gustav Mahler Park The central point of the park’s architectural concept is the contrast of the countryside and the city. The park’s central element is the statue of the music composer Gustav Mahler. Other elements refer to Mahler’s music work. The author of the statue and other sculpting works is Jan Koblasa.

Ten water fountain springs at the lake symbolize the number of Mahler’s symphonies. The park area also contains excavated foundations of the former synagogue that was burnt down by the Nazis in 1939.

Approximately on the site of the former Czap Hotel (currently Dělnický Dům) used to stand an inn named “Na Holubníku.”4 The hotel was ceremoniously opened in 1869; the music background was provided by a larger orchestra conducted by Heinrich Fischer5. On September 12, 1876, Gustav Mahler gave a concert in the hotel’s large assembly hall.

It was a fundraising event for the benefit of the German high school to purchase school supplies. Mahler’s performance was complemented by two members of the Court Opera in Vienna and his classmate from the music conservatory, Rudolf Krzyzhanowský. The program featured, in addition to the works of Schubert and Chopin, also own compositions of both students.

Mahler presented Sonata for the Violin and Piano (Sonate für Violin und Piano) and Quartet for the Piano, two violins, and a viola (Quartett für Piano, 2 Violinen und Viola).

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The Church of Virgin Mary’s Assumption „U Tří Knížat“ House in 1840

9 The Virgin Mary Assumption Church Built shortly after 1250, this church is one of the oldest sacral structures in Jihlava. In the 18th century the church won fame as a vocal center. The choir included future music composers and piano virtuosos Jan Ladislav Dusík and Václav Jan Tomášek. Dusík’s teacher was Ladislav Spinar6; Tomášek’s teacher was regenschori father Donat7. In the 19th century, two excellent musicians acted as regenschoris in this church: Johann Ferdinand Pokorný and Heinrich Fischer. In 1830, Pokorný received the honorary citizenship from Jihlava in recognition for his multiple merits.

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10 The “Three Counts House“ (“U Tří Knížat“) Sources from the 1500’s refer to an inn named Wild Man (“U Divého Muže“) in this location. After a reconstruction in 1825, the inn was renamed to “Three Counts“. The large assembly hall on the third floor was used for theater performances – it could accommodate about 300 persons8. The son of the owner of the house was another young musician, Hans Bruckmüller, whose talent captivated the attention of the music composer Franz von Suppé, who became his advisor, teacher, as well as maecenas. Bruckmüller often performed as soloist at the musical events of the Male Choral Society.

Bruckmüller composed a number of musical works that performed by music ensembles in Brno and Jihlava. He was also Gustav Mahler’s friend.

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HOFFMANN, František. František Hoffman at 90 years of age. Selected studies and articles Iglaviensia. Moravian Land Archives Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava. 2010. p. 121 HOFFMANN, František. František Hoffman at 90 years of age. Selected studies and articles Iglaviensia. Moravian Land Archives Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava. 2010. p. 123 PISKOVÁ, Renta; DVOŘÁK, Petr; SVĚRÁK, Vlastimil; NEDBALOVÁ, Helena. Leaving for a Trip.

Moravian Land Archives Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava.

2010. p. 16 Collective of authors. Jihlava. History. Culture. People. The History of Moravian Towns. Lidové Noviny Publishers. 2009. p. 443 VILÍMEK, Ladislav, www.iglau.cz, Iglauer Sonntags-Blatt dated 21. 11. 1869.

Bibliographical Dictionary of Bohemian Lands. XIV. Book Dot-Dvo. Libri Publishers. Prague.

2011. pp. 442–3 SCHWAB, Em. Die Minoritenkirche in Iglau. Deutscher Stadtbildungsauschuß. Iglau. 1933. p. 12 HOFFMANN, František. František Hoffman at 90 years of age. Selected studies and articles Iglaviensia. Moravian Land Archives Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava. 2010. p. 121

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11 The House at 2 Smetanova Street The house at 2 Smetanova was inhabited by a prominent Bohemian composer, Bedřich Smetana, in the years of 1835–1836. Smetana was supposed spend a year in Jihlava, at his father’s wish, to improve his German and violin skills. His teacher was Viktorin Maťocha, who had opened his private music school shortly after his arrival in Jihlava in 1826. He would often perform as soloist and was, in 1838, appointed concertmaster by the Musical Society. Smetana did not have the best memories of his stay in Jihlava, with the exception of Viktorin Maťocha, who introduced him to a number of older as well as contemporary authors. Apparently, his teacher took him to the academic events of the Musical Society.

Viktorin Maťocha

The House Smetanova Street 2

Sources Themes 1–6, exhibition Praise Music, musical traditions in Jihlava in the 19th century, organized by the Moravian Land Archives in Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava. Texts: Renata Pisková and Petr Dvořák. Gustav Mahler House, 2011.

HOFFMANN, František. František Hoffman at 90 years of age. Selected studies and articles Iglaviensia. Moravian Land Archives Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava. 2010.

PISKOVÁ, Renta; DVOŘÁK, Petr; SVĚRÁK, Vlastimil; NEDBALOVÁ, Helena. Leaving for a Trip. Moravian Land Archives Brno – State District Archives Jihlava and Statutory City of Jihlava. 2012.

Collective of authors. Jihlava. History. Culture. People. The History of Moravian Towns. Lidové Noviny Publishers. 2009.

VILÍMEK, Ladislav, www.iglau.cz, Iglauer Sonntags-Blatt, dated 21. 11. 1869.

Bibliographical Dictionary of Bohemian Lands. XIV. Book Dot-Dvo. Libri Publishers. Prague. 2011. pp. 442, 443 SCHWAB, Emanuel. The Minorite Church in Jihlava. German Urban Planning Committee. Jihlava. 1933. www.mahler.cz www.Jihlava.cz

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Issued by the City of Jihlava in 2013 Authors: Jana Petrůjová, Jana Škrdlová Photographs: Collection and Photographic archive of the Museum Vysočiny in Jihlava (cover title page, pages 1–6, 8, 9, 11, 12, cover rear page), the Moravian Land Archive in Brno – Government District Archive Jihlava (pages 6, 7), Eva Bystrianská (page 10) Graphic layout by Eva Bystrianská Translation: Jitka Píbilová Printed by: Antonín Prchal PROTISK – Velké Meziříčí Printing: 200 pcs.