Vojtěch Kuchynka (also Vojta Kuchynka) was a Czech double bassist and composer. He was born on 7 May 1871 in Nový Strasecí and died in Tábor on 1 May 1942. He wrote more than 150 works for double bass.
Life and education
Vojtěch Kuchynka was born on 7 May 1871 in Nové Strašecí, where his father was the town secretary. From 1885 to 1891 he was a pupil of Vendelin Sladek at the Prague Conservatoire in the double bass. After graduation he stayed there for another year to study only concert compositions. He also studied composition with Antonín Dvořák from 1891 to 1893.

Knittl, Stecker and Klička also attended the organ class during Kuchynek’s studies. He distinguished himself as a soloist of the Kovařovic Exhibition Orchestra (1895) and as a choirmaster of Prague’s singing societies. He became famous as concertmaster of the National Theatre (1899-1933). This is evidenced by more than 600 solo performances in the Czech lands.

He died in Tábor on 1 August 1942. He contributed most to the popularisation of the double bass as a solo instrument and this places him among the most important Czech double bassists of all time.

Kuchynka as a performer
Kuchynka also gave concerts in the USA in 1907. Numerous reviews have written in superlatives about his masterful playing. He was often called Paganini or Kubelík of the double bass, especially for his excellent technique. He co-performed with the Czech Quartet and was one of the first Czech double bassists to record solo double bass works on gramophone records.

Teaching activities
Kuchynka was a successful teacher. His pupils in the double bass include his brother, František Kuchynka (born 1879), who was deputy concertmaster of the National Theatre in 1901-1906 and, after leaving for the USA, worked successfully as concertmaster in several American orchestras.

Another outstanding pupil of Vojtěch Kuchynka (1926-1929) was Mirko Novotný from Žilina, concertmaster of the Czechoslovak Symphony Radio Orchestra, also a great promoter of solo double bass playing.

One of the best Czech teachers, Oldřich Kredba, later Kuchynka’s main piano accompanist, was among his pupils.

Vojta Kuchynka also taught piano to the Fürstenberg family at Leontýn Castle near Křivoklát.

Work
Vojta Kuchynka wrote orchestral, chamber, solo compositions for double bass, piano, violin, but also choirs, songs and others. His published works include the titles Desire, Dreaming, Rhapsody, Duet for double bass and violin, Mazurka and Polka for solo double bass.