George (joseph) Fiala

 31 March 1922, Kyiv, Ukraine - 6 January 2017, Montreal, Canada

 

About


George (Joseph) Fiala was a composer, pianist, organist, producer . Fiala studied music at the Kyiv Conservatory, the Akademische Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, and the Conservatoire royal de musique in Brussels. Emigrating to Canada in 1949, Fiala settled in Montreal, where besides his activity as a composer, he worked also as pianist, organist, and music teacher. After retiring in 1987 as a producer at CBC-Radio Canada International (RCI), he devoted his time to composing.

Fiala wrote over 200 works including symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and educational pieces for children. He showed a marked preference for classical forms and his works are characterized by transparent textures, harmonic dissonance and incisive rhythms. His study of the rhythmic and melodic procedures of Ukrainian folklore also exerted a strong influence on his composition. Fiala’s style has been described as close to neo-classicism with influences of Paul Hindemith and Igor Stravinsky.

Fiala received numerous commissions from Canadian foundations as well as Ukrainian community organizations, among others, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Symphony No. 4 – Ukrainian), Quebec Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Montréal), Guelph Spring Festival (Sinfonietta concertata), Montréal International Competition (Capriccio and Musiques concertantes), the Ukranian Canadian Congress and The Canada Council (Violin Concerto), Alberta Ukrainian Commemorative Society (Kurelek Suite), Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (Overtura buffa), and the Ukrainian National Association (Festive Overture). CBC-Radio Canada International in Montreal celebrated Fiala with the issue of a volume of his works in the Anthology of Canadian Music comprising twelve selected orchestral, chamber, and instrumental solo compositions. Fiala’s manuscript autobiography and personal archives are being preserved in the Canadian Music Archives at the University of Calgary.

 

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Works by George Fiala
  • Vesinnia pisnia (Spring Song), for orchestra (or for two pianos), 1943
  • Three Ukrainian Dances for Orchestra, 1947
  • Symphony no. 2, 1947
  • Autumn Music, 1949
  • Symphonietta, 1949
  • Symphony in E minor, 1950
  • Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors, symphonic poem, 1962
  • Eulogy in Memory of President J.F. Kennedy, 1965 (rev. 1985)
  • Montréal (symphonic suite), 1967
  • Ouverture burlesque, 1972
  • Symphony no. 4, “Ukrainian,” 1973 (rev. 1982)
  • Ukrainian Triptych, 1975
  • Overtura Buffa, 1981
  • Symphony no. 5, “Sinfonia Breve,” 1981
  • Kurelek Suite, 1982
  • Festive Overture, 1983
  • Music for Strings nos. 1 and 2, 1985, 1989
  • OVERture AND OUT, 1989
  • Sinfonico II, 1990–92
  • Piano Concerto no. 1, transcription for two pianos, 1938–39
  • Piano Concerto no. 3, 1946
  • Concertino for Piano, Trumpet, Timpani and Strings, 1950
  • Suite Concertante, for oboe and strings, 1956
  • Introduction to Fugato, for English horn and strings, 1961
  • Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, 1962
  • Divertimento Concertante, for violin and orchestra, 1965
  • Musique Concertante, for piano and orchestra, 1968
  • Sérénade Concertante, for cello and strings, 1968
  • Sinfonietta Concertata, for accordion, harpsichord and strings, 1971
  • Violin Concerto, 1973
  • Divertimento Capriccioso, for flute and strings, 1990
  • Flute Concerto, 1991
  • Three Piano Trios, 1942
  • First String Quartet, 1942
  • Trio for Flute, Viola and Piano, 1946
  • Piano Sonatina no. 1 in A minor (transcription for an instrumental septet), 1947
  • String Quartet no. 2, 1947
  • Duettino lyrique pour flûte et piano, 1947
  • Chamber Music for Five Wind Instruments, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, 1948
  • Ukrainian Suite, for cello and piano, 1948
  • Trio for Oboe, Cello and Piano, 1948
  • Petite musique concertante pour flûte et sept instruments (also transcription for flute and piano), 1948
  • Duma for Cello and Piano, 1948
  • Duet for Oboe and Cello, 1948
  • String Quartet, 1956
  • Piano Quartet, 1957
  • Three Quartets for Four Saxophones, 1955, 1961, 1983
  • Three Movements for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano, 1957
  • Pastorale and Allegretto for Four Recorders, 1963
  • “Wallaby’s Lullaby” for violin and piano, 1960–64
  • Three Cello Sonatas, 1969, 1971, 1982
  • Violin Sonata, 1969
  • Saxophone Sonata, 1970
  • Musique à-trois, for violin, viola and cello, 1970
  • Duo Sonata, for violin and harp, 1971
  • Sonata for Two, for soprano saxophone and accordion, 1971
  • Concertino Canades, for four harps, 1972
  • Sonata Breve, for clarinet and harp, 1972
  • Musique à quarte, for string quartet, 1972
  • Partita da Camera, for two violins, 1977
  • Duettino Concertante, for clarinet and harp, 1981
  • Terzetto Concertante, for clarinet, cello and harp, 1981
  • Partita Concertata, for violin and cello, 1982
  • Piano Quintet, 1982
  • Sonata in One Movement, for cello and piano, 1982
  • Two Movements, for oboe and piano, 1984
  • Petite Musique à deux, for piano and flute, 1985
  • Sonata Concertata, for flute and piano, 1986
  • Trio Sonata, for violin, violoncello and piano, 1987
  • Viola Sonata, 1989
  • Divertimento Capriccioso, for alto flute and strings, 1989
  • Duo concertante, for violin and piano, 1991
  • Musique … Septet, for clarinet and strings, 1992
  • Sonata da camera, for viola and piano