Matoušek Vlastislav (bio ENG)
Since 1991, Matoušek has lectured on ethno-musicology at HAMU's department of theory and music history; since 1999, at the Charles University Institute for Musicology as well. His academic focus is on the music of non-European cultures, music kinesis and organology. He also contributes to Czech Radio (e.g. "Ethnic music on the Vltava").
He has written many markedly eccentric compositions, frequently using exotic instruments or electronics. He likes to use non-traditional means of expression and musical approaches. He also gives solo performances of his own compositions, often in combination with electronic music (CD "Shapes of Silence", Transmusic/Awika 1994) - in particular on the Japanese shakuhachi bamboo flute (CD "Kaligrafie / Calligraphy", Angel 1999; CD "Taki ochi", ARTA 2003) and on other exotic and folk instruments from his own expansive collection.
He also performs and sings medieval and east Bohemian folk music with the band Schola Specialis, where he plays the historical moldánky (four-voiced bagpipes), the hurdy gurdy, hackbrett, platterspiel and other historical and folk instruments. He is also engaged as conductor and assistant coordinator at the 108 Hz music education association (of which he is the designated lifetime president), which presents artificial music that for one reasons or another is considered too unconventional, experimental or unusual and is thus performed rarely or not at all. Since 1979, he has also played meditative music inspired by the Orient with the band Relaxace, performing on exotic percussion (tabla, dholak, Tibetan singing bowls), folk flutes and other instruments. Their CDs include "Dhjána" (ARTA, 1991), "Kadael" (ARTA, 1993), "Český koan" (Sound & Silence, 1996), "Morning Prayer" (Anne Records), and "Indické inspirace" (Angel, 2001). From 1983 to 2000, he performed Renaissance polyphonic music with the chamber ensemble Duodena Cantitans (CDs: "Kryštof Harant", "Musica Temporis Rudolphi II.", "Mirabile Mysterium", "Felix Austriae Domus", "Monteverdi, Byrd: Masses for Four Voices").
He is also occasionally active in alternative rock music as composer, singer, bass guitarist and performer on ethnic instruments, in the past appearing with ensembles such as Máma Bubo (CDs "Baňatost", Primus 1992, CD "Planeta Haj", Anne Records) and Před Vaším letopočtem; he currently performs with Yamabu.