Igor Dibák

“Dibák belongs to the generation of composers who entered Slovak musical life with a different creative poetic than their avant-garde oriented predecessors – they more emphasized continuity with the tradition of Slovak musical modernism and drew inspiration from the classic personalities of European music of the first half of the 20th century. During his studies Dibák was influenced by J. Cikker (Chamber Symphony, Variations on a Theme of V. Novák for orchestra, Canto Spaventoso), he later expressed interest in the neoclassical practices of I. Stravinsky (Musica da camera; Moments Musicaux I.; the opera Svietnik / Candlestick), in the music of French Impressionism, the Polish school and shortly also in the technical background of the Second Viennese School (Moments Musicaux II.). From these stimuli is formed Dibák's mature stylish expression created on solid building construction and clarity of musical form, rhythmic and frisky vitality, on the sense of color nuances of instrumentation, and with an emphasis on melody and harmony in the space of expanded tonality and modality. Expressions in his music range from intimacy through a polarity of dramaticism and pastorality to the positions of sobriety, charm, noble music-making, and decency, with distinctive sense of humor, the grotesque, and irony. Dibák composed for almost all styles and genres, and a special place in his artistic activity was reserved for extensive instructional music for children and youth.”

(CHALUPKA, Ľubomír: Igor Dibák. In: 100 slovenských skladateľov. Ed. Marián Jurík, Peter Zagar. Bratislava : Národné hudobné centrum, 1998, p. 75.)