Ludvík Podéšť

Ludvík Podéšť, pseudonym Ludvík Binovský (19 December 1921 – 27 February 1968), was a Czech composer, conductor, music journalist and editor.

Life and career Podéšť was born on 19 December 1921 in Dubňany. He studied music composition at Brno Conservatory under Jaroslav Kvapil from 1941, graduating in 1948. He became a music reporter for the Czech Radio studio in Brno while studying musicology at Masaryk University under Bohumír Štědroň and Jan Racek. In Brno, he also worked as director of the Radost Youth Choir, for whom he wrote a large number of choral works. For the years 1953–1956, Podéšť replaced Radim Drejsl (1923–1953) as director of the Vít Nejedlý Army Artistic Ensemble (Armádní umělecký soubor Víta Nejedlého) in Prague, then during 1958–1961, he worked as an editor of music broadcasts for Czechoslovak Television. Podéšť composed a number of songs within the genre of popular music and "trampská hudba". His songs are catchy, especially noted for their pleasing melodies and jolly optimism.

Podéšť is the author of several professional journal studies such as Za odkazem V. Nejedlého (Vít Nejedlý Legacy; Hudební rozhledy, Vol. 8, 1955), Harmonická práce L. Janáčka (The Harmonic Work of Leoš Janáček; Hudební rozhledy, Vol. 10, 1957) and Hovoříme o hudbě (Talking about Music; Blok, Vol. 3, p. 302). Maminka (The Mummy), Song for medium voice and piano (1954); words by Jaroslav Seifert Písně na staré motivy (Songs on Ancient Themes) for baritone (or alto) and chamber orchestra (1955–1956) Divoký chmel, 4 Songs for baritone and piano (1960); words by Ivan Skála Každodenní malé písně, Song Cycle for high voice and piano (1967–1968) Tesknice for low voice, flute, viola, cello and piano; words by František Halas

Choral Smrt (Death), Cantata (1942); words by Olga Scheinpflugová Píseň o rodné zemi for male chorus (1946); words by Jaroslav Seifert Píseň o Stalinu, Cantata (1950); words by Stanislav Kostka Neumann Píseň o veliké době, Cantata (1950–1951); words by Ivan Skála Láska za lásku for mixed chorus and orchestra (1951) Veselé město, Suite for mixed chorus and large variety band (1952–1953) Láska pěknější, Cantata for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, female chorus and piano (1954–1955); words by Josef Kainar; won the Josef Bohuslav Foerster Prize, second prize in the 1955 Great Jubilee Competition of the Czech Composers Union (Velká jubilejní soutěž Svazu českých skladatelů) Praha (Prague) for male chorus (1955) Maminka, Song for children's chorus and orchestra (1963); words by Jaroslav Seifert Nadešel čas for unison chorus and piano; words by Stanislav Kostka Neumann Šťastnou cestu for soloist, chorus and orchestra Vojáček modrooký for soprano, male chorus and chamber orchestra with cimbalom Všední den for unison chorus; words by T. Pantůček Všichni jsme mladí for mixed chorus and orchestra

Film scores Year Czech title (original title) English title Notes 1950 Všední den 1952 Písnička za groš A Song for a Penny directed by Rudolf Myzet 1952 Zítra se bude tančit všude Tomorrow, People Will Be Dancing Everywhere directed by Vladimír Vlček; constructivist film 1955 Čínské jaro Chinese Spring documentary 1956 Rudá záře nad Kladnem Red Glare over Kladno directed by Vladimír Vlček 1956 Zaostřit, prosím! Focus, Please! a.k.a. Close Up, Please!; directed by Martin Frič 1956 Advent Advent directed by Vladimír Vlček 1957 Florenc 13:30 directed by Josef Mach includes the song "Šoférská" sung by Josef Bek 1958 Hořká láska Bitter Love directed by Josef Mach 1958 La liberté surveillée Provisional Liberty Czech language title: V proudech; directed by Henri Aisner and Vladimír Vlček 1959 Zatoulané dělo The Lost Gun a.k.a. The Missing Cannon; directed by Josef Mach 1960 Pán a hvezdár The Master and the Astronomer directed by Dušan Kodaj 1961 Florián directed by Josef Mach 1961 Valčík pro milión Waltz for a Million directed by Josef Mach includes the song "Babičko, nauč mně charleston" (Grandmother, Teach Me the Charleston) 1962 Prosím, nebudit! directed by Josef Mach 1962 Medailonograf Frantiska Filipovského documentary short; directed by Josef Mach 1963 Tři chlapi v chalupě directed by Josef Mach 1968 Objížďka directed by Josef Mach