Bugatti-step

Description

The composer of the piano foxtrot Bugatti step, JaroslavJezek (born 1906 in Prague, died1942 in New York), is primarily known as a pioneer in Czech popular jazz music,as well asthe artist behind the music for the majority of plays by renowned comedians JiriVoskovecand Jan Werich, written for the avantgarde Osvobozene divadlo (Prague LiberatedTheatre)during its heyday, between the years 1925 and 1938. At the same time, however,one shouldnot forget that especially the Piano Concerto (1927) and the Little Suite(1928) place Jezekamong the leading figures of international Modernism (Paul Hindemith, ErwinSchulhoff andothers) who, in the 1920s and 1930s, strove to incorporate jazz elements intoserious music.

Bugatti step, written in 1931 as the overture to the playDon Juan & Comp., thanks to its truedance character and immense virtuosity, hovers on the borderline between thesetwo musicalgenres. Its title is also of interest - Jezek, a great sports enthusiast, chosethe title in honourof the winning French racer Louis Chiros who drove a Bugatti at the Masarykracing circuit inBrno, and his fascination with technology is reflected in the pulsating rhythmsreminiscent ofa four-stroke engine, present throughout the composition constructed on fourthintervals.