Bohuslav Martinů
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About Bohuslav Martinů
Bohuslav Martinů was born in Polička near the Bohemian-Moravian border on 8 December 1890. His musical talent was recognized and nurtured early. At the age of seven, he took his first violin lessons and only a little later started his first composition attempts.
At the age of fifteen, Martinů gave his first concert in his home town. When he entered the Prague Conservatoire in 1906, he had already written numerous chamber music works, which, unfortunately, are missing. In Prague, Martinů studied violin and organ, but was expelled from the conservatoire for ’incorrigible inattentiveness’ in 1910. In 1912 he did his violin teacher’s diploma and one year later joined the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
During this time he devoted much of his time to composition; by the end of World War I he had produced about 120 works of different genres. It was particularly the music of French impressionism that strongly influenced Martinů’s compositional œuvre, but Czech folk music always remained a major source of inspiration to him as well.
In 1923 Martinů went to Paris where he took composition lessons with Albert Roussel. During his two years’ studies with Roussel, Martinů developed his own individual style. Among Martinů’s first full-scale works are Half-Time for orchestra, String Quartet No. 2 and the orchestral work La Bagarre. The outstanding features of these compositions which gradually made him well-known on an international level as well, are in particular polytonal harmonies, a polyphonic style of composition and rhythmic vitality.
From the late 1920s, Martinů’s works were becoming more and more influenced by jazz music, as can be seen in compositions such as the Sextet for piano and wind instruments, Jazz Suite, the pasticcio La Revue de Cuisine, or the ballet Echec au roi. The most experimental compositions by Martinů, containing strong dissonances and avoiding tonal references, were created in 1929 (Fantaisie for two pianos, String Quartet No. 3). This phase passed quickly, however, for in the early 1930s Martinů entered a neo-classical period, which was accompanied by his rediscovery of traditional formal principles (Cello Concerto No. 1, Serenade for chamber orchestra).
When the German army occupied France in 1940, Martinů saw himself forced to emigrate to the United States. There, in 1941, he wrote his Symphony No. 1 upon commission from Koussevitzky and, until 1946, five other symphonies as well as numerous concertos and chamber music works. He lived at different places in the USA, but his heart remained in Czechoslovakia, as the composition of numerous songs based on Czech texts shows. After the war Martinů was invited to become professor at the Prague Conservatoire, but the reformation of the government, at Stalin’s behest, under a communist regime made his return impossible. It was not before 1953 that he returned to Europe. For two years he lived in Nice where he wrote two of his most important works (the oratorio Gilgamesh and the dramatic score Greek passion), then in Rome and finally in Switzerland. He died in Liestal near Basel on 28 August 1959.
Worklist
Chronology
Products
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreInstrumentation: Oboe, Clarinet and BassoonProduct number: ME 6073Out of stock€36.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: piano (3 hands)Product number: ME 173Out of stock€20.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Out of stock€12.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Out of stock€12.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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List of Works Published by Schott and PantonComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Promotional materialLanguage: German, EnglishProduct number: KAT 92-99In stock€0.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Cantata on Folk TextsComposer: Bohuslav MartinůEditor: Karel SolcEdition: Piano reductionSeries: Edition Schott
Bouquet of Flowers
Instrumentation: solo parts, choir and orchestraProduct number: P 1540Product TypeIn stockAs low as €32.99Incl. Tax -
Four little piano pieces for childrenProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax
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for piano and orchestraComposer: Bohuslav MartinůEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Concertino
Instrumentation: piano and orchestraProduct number: P 766Product TypeIn stockAs low as €27.99Incl. Tax -
für Klavier und OrchesterComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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(Divertimento)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano left hand and chamber orchestra
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für Violoncello, Bläser, Klavier und SchlagzeugComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: cello, wind instruments, piano and percussion
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pour piano à la main gauche et orchestreComposer: Bohuslav MartinůEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Concertino
Instrumentation: piano left hand and orchestraProduct number: P 1667Product TypeIn stockAs low as €22.99Incl. Tax -
for violoncello and orchestra No. 1 (3rd version)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: cello and orchestra
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for piano and chamber orchestra No. 1Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and chamber orchestra
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for Piano and Orchestra No. 3Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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for Piano and Orchestra No. 2Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partInstrumentation: oboe and orchestraProduct number: ME 7094Out of stock€30.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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(Theatre outside the Gate)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Performing scoreInstrumentation: 2 BlockflötenProduct number: ME 7636Out of stock€18.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 964
Instrumentation: 2 string orchestras, piano and percussionProduct number: BH 6500651In stock€40.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Symphonic movementComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Sen o minulosti
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: P 2273In stock€18.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: Violin and VioloncelloProduct number: ME 144Out of stock€36.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Performing scoreInstrumentation: Violin and VioloncelloProduct number: ME 7187Out of stock€29.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Performing scoreInstrumentation: Violine und ViolaProduct number: ME 7255Out of stock€49.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Five Pieces for pianoProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax
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In stock€16.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Set of partsInstrumentation: THER/OB/KL/STRQProduct number: ME 8028Out of stock€71.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreInstrumentation: oboe, piano and string quartetProduct number: ME 7393Out of stock€21.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Symphony No. 6Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Hawkes Pocket Scores, HPS 832
Instrumentation: orchestraProduct number: BH 6500365In stock€47.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Bohuslav MartinůArranger: Zdeněk ZouharMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Choral scoreInstrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Language: Czech, French, German, EnglishProduct number: BB 5401247In stock€7.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Rondo for orchestraComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Orchestra
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1. Orchestersuite aus dem BallettComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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2. Orchestersuite aus dem BallettComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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for small orchestraComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: chamber orchestra
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Suite from the operaComposer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: large orchestra
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(Who is the Most Powerful in the World?)
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für Violoncello und Orchester Nr. 1 (1. Fassung)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Violoncello and Orchestra
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(Magic Nights)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: Czech, German
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(Blumenstrauß)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), children's choir and orchestraLanguage: Czech, German
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: 2 pianosProduct number: ME 7641Out of stock€69.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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(Tears of the Knife)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialLanguage: Czech, French
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Satz für Orchester und 3 Singstimmen (ABarB)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraLanguage: Vocalises
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(Der wunderbare Fernflug)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensemble
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6 pieces for pianoProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Set of partsInstrumentation: oboe, 2 violins and celloProduct number: ME 7703Out of stock€24.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Bohuslav MartinůMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreInstrumentation: oboe, 2 violins and celloProduct number: ME 7702Out of stock€18.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for violin and orchestra from the Suite concertante (1st version)Composer: Bohuslav MartinůEditor: Jakub JunekEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Suite concertante
Instrumentation: violin and orchestraProduct number: ED 23602Product TypeIn stockAs low as €7.99Incl. Tax