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Bagpipe groups had undoubtedly an important position in social events
of Chodsko villages in the19th century. Firstly remembered bagpiper
frome those times was Jan Kuttenberg, called Kubnác. He played the
bellows bagpipes with Postřekov violin player Bartoloměj Sladký
Matyjdl or Díly Drancal (term of a very passionate musician)
Jakub Zahořík. Sometimes they were accompanied by violin player and
clarinetist Josef Kuneš, nicknamed Sef Kodrda. Although the latter
rised to fame particularly by founding a small brass band in 1880s,
which later became a basis of the famous brass band of the masonry
association, led by excellent clarinetist and composer Štěpán Volfík,
who was also said to play with bagpipers from time to time.
There was a period of quiet for bagpipes in Postřekov after the World
War One. Up to 1932 when Jiří Kajer, a teacher and bagpiper married
into Postřekov, founded a Chodsko band. The other fine clarinetists
playing with him were brothers Karel and Jiří Frišholc from Trhanov
and local violinist Oldřich Královec. They accompanied primarily
Postřekov ethnographic group established already in 1926 which Kajer
enlarged into a bigger ensemble in 1933. He was transferred to
Touškov in 1935 and later to Pilsen which caused a restriction on
activities of the band whose head he was. Therefore Josef Kuželka, a
music teacher, organist, and clarinetist from Klenčí, founded a new
bagpipe group. Bb clarinet was taken over by František Schürer from
Mlýnec, the bagpipe playing was quickly learnt by flugelhorn player,
singer, and dancer Antonín Kuželka and the violin was undertaken by
idling Oldřich Královec. Their activities were ceased by the World
War Two.
But after its end the original Kajers bagpipe band was performing
again, they even made a record with four Chodsko songs published by
Ultraphon in 1946. Since the leader and bagpiper Jiří Kajer was still
living and working in Pilsen and Oldřich Královec moved to Prague as
early as 1938, Frišholc brothers invited to the band Jakub Jahn from
Zdanov in early 1950s, and Josef März, a teacher and violinist from
Klenčí. Soon other two players came: bagpiper František Wimmer and
violinist František Říha from Domažlice. The band was renamed to
Frišholc (or Trhanov) Bagpipe Band. In that time Karel Frišholc ended
his playing the Es clarinet and so his brother Jiří, younger by eight
years, took over the smaller clarinet and engaged his son Jirka in
the larger one. They were playing in that set until 1958.
In the following year primirily the bagpipe band from Cultural House
in Horšovský Týn, led by bagpiper Heřman Menza cooperated with
Postřekov ethnographic group. But by then a new band was ganging up,
getting ready by Vladimír Baier from Chodsko Cultural House in
Domažlice, following instructions from Zdeněk Bláha, an editor in
Pilsen radio, to take part in the national radio
competition for newly formed folk bands. The
clarinets were played by Jaroslav Kuželka (he became the leader) and
Jan Pitner there, the violins by Josef Kapic and Karel Kuželka from
Díly, the bagpipes by Jakub Jahn from Zdanov and local player
Jindřich Šleis, double bass by Jindřich Šimek from Šitboř. After a
short time Bb clarinetist Pitner was changed by Jan Kuželka from
Klenčí and violinist Karel Kuželka by younger brother of
mentioned Oldra Královec, Štěpán. In 1980s also Jiřina Holoubková
played the violin and her husband Jan the bagpipe. Both performed in
a local small country band called The Drancals in the years 1982-
1992 as well, it was founded and led by Vladimír Baier, Es clarinet
player from Domažlice. It must not be forgotten to mention that there
was a good children bagpipe band performing then too.
In 1988 new clarinetists Bedřich Kůst and Jaroslav Kuneš came to the
group of adults. Bagpiper Holoubek turned to the double bass since.
Only bagpiper Šleis remained with the old bunch, later followed by
young Richard Vísner. The set was changing again between 1991 and
1993. Young Domažlice musicians Karel Bečvář and Josef Stočes
appeared at the clarinets, counterbalanced by the violins of Marie
Řezníčková and Antonín Kuželka junior from Postřekov. Sometimes
Helena Vítková from Poběžovice played the violin too.
In the years 1993-1996 clarinets were played by a father and son duo
Jan and Jaroslav Řezníček and then there was another period of
changes, when several young musicians not only from Postřekov
appeared for a short time. From the beginning of the third millenium
the following have been playing permanently: Roman Kalous-Es
clarinet, Jan Hrbáček-Bb clarinet, Pavel Ježek violin, and Jan
Holoubek- double bass. Richard Vísner is the leader. They are very
good and long may they keep together!
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