MARTINU, Bohuslav
b Policka, Czechoslovakia, 8 December 1890
d Liestal, Switzerland, 28 August 1959, aged sixty-nine

He was the son of a cobbler who was also keeper of the church tower in which he was born and lived for his first eleven years. He showed early signs of musical talent and became involved with local festivals. His prowess as a violinist impelled local citizens to send him to the Prague Conservatory. He passed his teaching examinations and became a violin teacher in his horn e town in 1916; after World War I he played in the Czech Philharmonic orchestra. He went to Paris in 1923, remaining there composing until the Nazis drove him to America in 1940. After the war he refused the offer of a professorship at Prague Conservatory. He died of stomach cancer.

1918 (28)

Czech Rhapsody, for chorus

1921 (31)

Istar, ballet

1922 (32)

The Grove of the Satyrs, symphonic poem

Shadows, symphonic poem

Vanishing Midnight, symphonic poem

1925 (35)

Half Time, symphonic poem

Piano Concerto No 1

On tourne, ballet

1927 (37)

La bagarre, symphonic poem

La revue de cuisine, ballet

Le raid merveilleux, ballet (1927-8)

1928 (38)

The Soldier and the Dancer, opera

Les Lames du Couteau, opera

Echéc au roi, ballet

La Rapsodie

Entr'acte, for orchestra

Concertino for piano (left hand)

and chamber orchestra

1929 (39)

Journée de bonté, opera

The Butterfly that Stamped, ballet

1930 (40)

Serenade, for chamber orchestra

Violin Sonata No 1

1931 (41)

Cello Concerto

Partita (Suite No 1)

Spalicek, ballet

1932 (42)

Les Rondes, for orchestra

Sinfonia for two orchestras

Overture for the Sokol Festival

1933 (43)

The Miracle of Our Lady, opera

1934 (44)

Inventions, for orchestra

1935 (45)

The Suburban Theatre, opera

Le Jugement de Paris, ballet

Concertino No 2 for piano

1936-7 (46-7)

Juliette, or The Key to Dreams, opera

1937 (47)

Alexandre bis, opera

Comedy on the Bridge, opera

1938 (48)

Concerto for two string orchestras, piano and timpani

Concerto Grosso for orchestra

Tre Ricercare for orchestra

Quartet No 5

Madrigals for women's voices

1939 (49)

Field Mass

1940 (50)

Military March

1942 (52)

Symphony No 1

1943 (53)

Symphony No 2

Concerto for two pianos

Violin Concerto

In Memory of Lidice, for orchestra

1944 (54)

Symphony No 3

Cello Concerto (1944-5)

1945 (55)

Symphony No 4

Thunderbolt P-47, for orchestra

1946 (56)

Symphony No 5

1947 (57)

Quartet No 7

1948 (58)

Piano Concerto No 3

The Strangler, ballet

1949 (59)

Sinfonia Concertante

Mazurka-Nokturne for string quartet

1950 (60)

Double Violin Concerto No 2

Intermezzo for orchestra

Sinfonietta, La Jolla, for piano and orchestra

Piano Trio No 2

1951 (61)

Piano Trio No 3

Stowe Pastorals, for chamber ensemble

Serenade, for two clarinets and string trio

1951-3 (61-3)

Symphony No 6, Fantasies Symphoniques

1952 (62)

What Men Live By, TV opera

Rhapsodie, for viola and orchestra

1953 (63)

The Marriage, opera

Accusation against the Unknown, TV opera

Concerto for violin, piano and orchestra

Overture

Fresky (Frescoes of) Piero della Francesco, for orchestra

1954 (64)

Mirandolina, opera

Hymn to lacob, for soli, chorus, horn, strings and organ

Mount of Three Lights, cantata

1954-5 (64-5)

The Epic of Gilgamesh, oratorio

1958 (68)

Ariadne, opera

Three Estampes for orchestra

1959 (68)

Mikes of the Mountains, chamber cantata

Festival of Birds, for children's voices and trumpet

The Prophecy of Isaiah, for voices and ensemble

The Burden of Moab. for male voices and piano

Chamber Music for clarinet, harp and piano quartet

Nonet for wind quintet, string trio and double-bass