The son of the eminent Slovak composer, Mikuláš Moyzes, Alexander Moyzes graduated from Novák's master class at the Prague Conservatoire in 1930. As Professor of composition at the Bratislava Conservatory and chief musical advisor to the Bratislava Radio, Moyzes was responsible for teaching almost every important Slovak composer during the central part of the 20^th century. Though he often explored avant garde compositional techniques, he used melody as the basis for his large symphonic output. The First and Second symphonies, composed in the shadow of two World Wars, are pleasing and totally accessible scores. Using the full range of colours of a large symphony orchestra, there is a feeling of vitality and optimism in the scores, the Second symphony often lightweight in texture, and possessing an 'out-of-doors' freshness.