The world of early music and jazz improvisation has lost a singular voice. Pavel Klikar, a Czech musician and scholar renowned for his pioneering work in historically informed performance practice, has died. While a specific date of death wasn’t immediately available, the news was announced by Ondřej Havelka, a close colleague, signaling a significant loss for both the academic and performance communities.
Klikar’s influence spanned decades, beginning with his founding of the Original Prague Syncopation Orchestra (OPSO) in . OPSO wasn’t simply a recreation of early jazz; it was a dedicated attempt to understand and authentically reproduce the sound and spirit of the music’s origins. This commitment to historical accuracy would become a defining characteristic of his career.
But Klikar’s curiosity didn’t stop at jazz. In , he co-founded Musica Antiqua Praha, a vocal and instrumental ensemble focused on Baroque music. This marked a pivotal shift, and a deepening of his core principles. According to Havelka, Klikar formulated three fundamental principles for a meaningful revival of early music: “to learn to perceive, understand, and ultimately fully assimilate the musical thinking of the period; to master the period’s arranging techniques; and finally, to use period instruments, whose character and sonic possibilities are markedly different from modern instruments.”
This wasn’t merely about playing old instruments; it was about a holistic approach to recreating a lost sound world. Klikar actively sought out original instruments from the eighteenth century, commissioning restorations and meticulous tuning. He also oversaw the creation of faithful replicas, a pursuit that, Havelka notes, “became an impetus for the development of the production of replicas of period harpsichords and organs in our country.” This dedication to instrument-making wasn’t a side project; it was integral to his artistic vision.
Klikar’s research extended beyond the instruments themselves. He delved into the principles of period interpretation, acoustics, and tuning, striving for a purity of sound that reflected the practices of the time. He dedicated himself to discovering, transcribing, and performing previously unknown compositions unearthed from archives, breathing new life into forgotten musical treasures. He wasn’t content to simply perform the canon; he actively expanded it.
His concert programming was described as “dramaturgically groundbreaking,” and his rehearsals were famously rigorous. He wasn’t interested in superficial polish; he demanded a deep understanding of the music and a commitment to historical accuracy from his musicians. This dedication culminated in numerous recordings and concert series dedicated to early Baroque music.
Klikar’s reputation extended far beyond the Czech Republic. Musica Antiqua Praha, in particular, garnered international respect for its historically informed interpretations of Baroque masterpieces. He established himself as a leading figure in the global early music movement, influencing performers and scholars alike.
Born in Prague on , Klikar’s path wasn’t confined to the concert hall. In , he briefly entered the political arena, running for a seat in the Czech Senate, though he was ultimately unsuccessful. This foray into politics, while perhaps unexpected, speaks to a broader engagement with civic life and a willingness to apply his principles to different spheres.
Havelka’s tribute underscores the profound impact Klikar had on those who worked with him. “In today’s world, we often hear the adjective ‘genius’ used in connection with art. Its overuse is sometimes laughable, sometimes suspicious, and rarely accurately expresses the abilities and significance of the person being addressed,” Havelka stated. “But if you ask any musician who was fortunate enough to collaborate with Pavel Klikar, each of them, whether they worked in the Original Prague Syncopation Orchestra or the Baroque ensemble Musica Antiqua Praha, will confirm that he was a truly exceptional, extraordinary, simply genius man and musician.”
The passing of Pavel Klikar represents a loss not just for the Czech Republic, but for the international community of musicians and scholars dedicated to preserving and understanding the rich tapestry of musical history. His legacy will live on through the ensembles he founded, the recordings he made, and the countless musicians he inspired to approach early music with a spirit of rigorous inquiry and passionate dedication. He wasn’t simply a performer or a scholar; he was a meticulous reconstructor of sound, a tireless researcher, and a visionary artist who redefined how we listen to the past.
The recent deaths of drummer Timothy Very and Pogues member Andrew Ranken further highlight a period of loss within the music community, underscoring the fragility of artistic life and the importance of celebrating the contributions of those who shape our cultural landscape.
