about besharmonie

Less slanted talking now also for adults

Besharmonie is a Czech mixed choir established at the Jaroslav Heyrovsky grammar school in Prague by teacher and choirmaster Libor Sladek. Besharmonie is entering its eighth season and most of its members are current or former students of the school. The name „Besharmonie" is a play on words: the prefix „Bes" means both a name of a note (B flat) and „without" in Czech language. We hope our listeners will agree that the second meaning does not apply to our choir.

The group has a broad repertoire which includes Rennaissance polyphony as well as Classical, Romantic (e.g., A. Dvorak), and 20th century music. Listeners may also hear folk songs and spirituals as well as jazz and rock compositions. Contemporary Czech classical works (e.g., Zdenek Lukas, Jan Novak- an author living in the UK, or jiri Pavlica) are performed to support the creation of new music. Although this music is little known it is very enjoyable for both performers and audiences alike.

Probably the largest project undertaken by the choir is the jazz oratory „Everysmiling liberty". Authors Erling Kullberg and Jens Johansen were inspired by Handel+s „Judas Maccabeus" and in 1990 composed this beautiful piece with completely new harmonies and instrumentation. It is written for the soloists, choir and a jazz orchestra.

Despite its short history Besharmonie has received several awards. The choir has been awarded with Golden medals in a State competition of high school choirs „Gymnasia Cantant", a „Junior prize" in an International choir festival of Romanticism, and Silver medal in the International competition of choirs and orchestras „Young Prague".

Besharmonie cooperates with several orchestras and choirs in collective projects and has performed internationally (Switzerland, Greece, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom- 2007).