In the footsteps of Antonín Veprek
He fled to Příbram from the German occupiers. He became involved in the local cultural life and after a few months he introduced a girls' choir to the public of Příbram. "The songs sounded rich, rhythmically and dynamically very precise and beautiful, the vocalisation was perfect," wrote the magazine Horymír about the first concert. Antonín Vepřek immediately became a symbol of Příbram music. And his legacy has endured to this day.
1. AUDITORIUM (JIRÁSKOVY SADY SCHOOL)
Thanks to the school reform of 1953, the former secondary school was transformed into an eleven-year secondary school (today's Jiráskovy sady Primary School). The local chapel was converted into an auditorium, creating a hall with excellent acoustics. "There was a small cabinet in the auditorium where my grandfather literally made calligraphic notations of songs," recalls my granddaughter Dana Štefanová. "They were large sheets of wrapping paper that could be seen from the third row." The auditorium became the venue for rehearsals and a concert by Antonín Veprek's choir. During the Christmas concerts it was always decorated with two huge spruce trees.
The auditorium was built by rebuilding the chapel of the State Rectory and became a place for rehearsals and concerts of the choir of Antonín Veprek.
He received his first violin from his father at the age of eight. It turned out that music would follow Antonín Vepřek throughout his life. His steps led him to the teachers' institute in Kutná Hora. He became increasingly fascinated with choral singing. After graduation and military service, he worked as a teacher in Litoměřice, where he took advantage of all the opportunities offered to him for conducting. But the year 1938 came. German troops occupied the borderlands and the Czech population fled. Among them was Antonín Vepřek with his wife and daughter. They head to Kladno and from there to Příbram.
It was no accident. Vepřek's fame had long since crossed the borders of the Litoměřice region and musical life had a rich tradition in mining town Příbram. The invitation didn't wait long. Vepřek became a cellist of the Příbram Philharmonic, a member of the piano trio and conductor of the Lumír-Dobromila choir. Above all, he realised his long-held dream: in June 1939 he introduced the choir of pupils of the burgher school to the public. However, the choir lacked an ideal space in which to rehearse and perform.
Thanks to the school reform of 1953, the former secondary school was transformed into an eleven-year high school (today's Jiráskovy sady Primary School). The local chapel was converted into an auditorium, creating a hall with excellent acoustics. "There was a small cabinet in the auditorium where my grandfather literally made calligraphic notations of songs," recalls granddaughter Dana Štefanová. "They were large sheets of wrapping paper, which could be clearly seen from the third row."
The auditorium became the venue for rehearsals and concerts of the Antonín Veprek Choir. During the Christmas concerts it was always decorated with two huge spruce trees.
2. HOLY MOUNTAIN
During his regular walks, Antonín Vepřek used to take the side paths. He liked to visit Toufar's Meadow, from where he could observe the town below him and the panorama of Brda.
Thanks to the school reform of 1953, the former secondary school was transformed into an eleven-year high school (today's primary school Jiráskovy sady). The local chapel was converted into an auditorium, creating a hall with excellent acoustics. "There was a small cabinet in the auditorium where my grandfather literally made calligraphic notations of songs," recalls granddaughter Dana Štefanová. "They were large sheets of wrapping paper, which could be clearly seen from the third row."
The auditorium became the venue for rehearsals and concerts of the Antonín Veprek Choir. During the Christmas concerts it was always decorated with two huge spruce trees.
3. VINOHRADY
He used to walk his dogs on today's Komenský Square. "Boxer Dyk once dragged a battered grandfather. Instead of a disciplined walk, he chased the cat," recalls the granddaughter.
As a school principal, he was almost at home here, so he liked to go to Svatá Hora to find peace. "He would often stop on the way, looking at the town below him, and thoughts would run through his head about improving the school or where he would go with his children's choir," says Dana Štefanová. "When he took me with him, he always urged me to breathe deeply, because the air on Svatá Hora is almost mountain-like."
The choir was successful in competitions, recorded for radio and gave many concerts. It acquired a permanent pianist, the talented music school professor Jiřina Mandová. The repertoire of national songs was replaced by concert compositions. Antonín Vepřek retired in 1971. However, he continued to teach music and direct the choir, which was increasingly taken over by his son Vladimír. Antonín Vepřek died on 13 January 1978.
4. HŘBITOV
The resting place of Antonín Vepřek, his wife Emília and sons Lumír and Vladimír is the cemetery Na Hvězdičce. The anniversary of his death is still commemorated here by former members of the choir.
Text: Václav Bešt'ák
Photo: Karolina Ketmanová
