Petr Eben

Petr Eben was born January 22, 1929 in Zamberk, Czechoslovakia. His early years were spent in southern Bohemia where he studies piano, organ, and cello. Eben’s mother was Catholic, but his father was a Jew. In 1943, at age 14, he was expelled from school and sent to Buchenwald for the remainder of the war. Eben described his arrival at Buchenwald with his older brother, Bedrich. They were taken to a shower room, fully expecting gas, and were relieved when water came from the shower heads instead. (1) Eben leaned heavily on his Catholic faith to get him through the ordeal. Following the war, Eben composed Suita Balladica for cello and piano, a reflection of his days in Buchenwald. He stated of this work:

 

"It is a remembrance of the dead in the mass graves and . . . a testimony of the wonderful faith of human beings. Faith and hope cannot be killed, the spirit cannot be defeated by external events." (2) (See video below)

 

Following the war, he studied at the Pargue Academy for Music. He graduated in 1954. Beginning in 1955 he taught music history at Charles University in Prague, then went on to the University of Prague. In 1977 he became professor of composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. In 1990 he returned to Prague as professor of composition at the Academy of Performing Arts. He was awarded the title of Knight of the French Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Letters. Mostly known for his religious works, oratorios, and organ pieces, the Petr Eben International Organ Competition was created in his honor in 2004. He died October 24, 2007(2007-10-24) at age 78.(3)

 

(1)Graham Melville-Mason. Petr Eben, Obituary. The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/petr-eben-398044.htmlAccessed November 21, 2015.

 

(2) Ibid.

 

(3) Petr Eben. http://www.schott-music.com/shop/persons/featured/petr-eben/ Accessed November 21, 2015.