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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Father's Day is Approaching - Bohuslav & His Dad's Influence on his Life

Bohuslav Rattay's father - also named Bohuslav!

As Father's Day Approaches, Bohuslav Rattay Reflects on the Influence his Father had on his Life:

-By Angie Manning


In many families, music is not something that randomly shows up in one person. Even though it can, of course, most of the time – almost – it’s in the blood. (I have absolutely no data to back this up), but even if it is not the case that everyone is a professional musician in a family, if someone in a family is intensely musical, it seems that it is passed down for generations.

Music in a family is a collective experience. It’s a gathering, a celebration, daily living in music, and it’s in the very air that you breathe. In my life experience, it’s usually the case that musical people have musical family trees. (Just something that I have noticed.)

So, as Father’s Day approached, I thought that it would be interesting to see if that was the case with our conductor, Bohuslav Rattay. Just to see – where he comes from – not just geographically, but musically. What was his father’s influence on his musical life?


Bohuslav reflects on his father's influence on his life...

The Rattay Musical Family Tree:
“As you can tell from the picture, my dad is a trombone player. Even though he is retired now, he still plays here and there but not as intensely as he used to.  His brother (Evzen), my uncle, is a cellist, and so, the influence on me was coming from all different directions. Their father, my grandpa, was an amateur violinist and pianist. To this day, I have my grandpa's concert piano in my house.”

Yes, Bohuslav Had Piano Lessons!
“My dad started me on music at an early age, somewhere around 5 years old. At first, I took piano lessons with a lady that lived in the same apartment complex, but later, he took me to a music teacher that he himself started with. My dad, being a professional musician, made sure I practiced every day, or almost every day :) and that I was ready for my lessons with my teacher.”


Bohuslav’s Time at the Prague Conservatory:
“Later on, during my studies at the conservatory of music, my dad created many wonderful opportunities for me to play my instrument (bassoon) with all different musical groups around town and even in his orchestra at the theater. We spent many hours together rehearsing and performing.”


Happy Father’s Day to Dad in Prague:
"Both of my parents live in Prague, very far away from where I have chosen to spend my life. These days, there are fewer opportunities for my father and I to enjoy music making together, but I know he is very proud of me and supports me in spirit, wishing for me to enjoy my music making for the rest of my life.”


Happy Father's Day from the Lake Charles Symphony!
See you July 14 when the Symphony Goes Motown - Summer Pops Concert.


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