Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)

[Mirror Image]

Certainly a very nice piece, if not at the top of my Martinů concerto list. It's also one of the few Martinů pieces I've managed to hear live - many years ago, unfortunately I don't even remember the name of the violist who performed it.

Agreed. I bet seeing it performed in concert was a wonderful experience. There are several works of Martinu's that I feel would be absolutely thrilling to see in concert and a few of those, for me, would be Field Mass, any of the symphonies, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Ariane, Julietta, Piano Concerto No. 4, "Incantation", and perhaps one of the song cycles like Bouquet of Flowers, Nipponari, or Magic Nights.

[kishnevi]

Transferring this remark by MI on the Listening thread for proper follow-up

I've seen this disc before, but having several performances the VCs already, I never bought it. You may just not like Violin Concerto No. 2 and that's certainly okay that you don't. Personally, I love the work (and all of Martinu's concerti really). I'm showing my bias here of course. I would say try your hand at the Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 or the Oboe Concerto or even that oddball Harpsichord Concerto, which is such a blast to listen to as it has absolutely riveting interplay between the solo harpsichord part and the solo piano part. They off of each other at several points in the work and it's a delight to hear. I'd also turn your attention to the chamber music, which will keep you busy for quite some time. There's so much to explore in Martinu's oeuvre. This is a composer that made a huge impression on me as I was first getting into classical music and that joy and love for his music has never diminished. His music puts a goofy smile on my face each time I hear one of his works.

The follow up being of course, Are there any specific recordings you would suggest?

[Mirror Image]

Transferring this remark by MI on the Listening thread for proper follow-up
The follow up being of course, Are there any specific recordings you would suggest?

Oh boy, Jeffrey! This could be a lengthy post, but I think what I'm going to do is, and I hope Vandermolden (the other Jeffrey) doesn't mind, but sent him a personal message that contained many recommendations, so without further ado, here's that message:

Hey Jeffrey,

No need to thank me, my friend. I have done nothing for you to thank me. I'm merely departing my knowledge of Martinu and making some suggestions, which comes free of charge. Anyway, for the complete violin concerti and violin concertante works, I would turn to the Hogwood series on Hyperion with violinist Bohuslav Matoušek who is the featured soloist throughout the series. Also, Matoušek has an excellent box set of the complete violin and piano music on Supraphon with pianist Petr Adamec:

[asin]B001AYAL22[/asin]

Speaking of Hyperion, if you don't own this 2-CD set of chamber music, do pick it up:

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Speaking of Hogwood, if you don't know this recording, then you should definitely remedy this soon:

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You mentioning owning the Ancerl recording of Bouquet of Flowers and, while it does have it's merits, it suffers from the antiquated sound quality. Thankfully, there's a new recording of this song cycle coming on Supraphon with conductor Tomáš Netopil (who is turning out to be an excellent Martinu recording if his last recording of the one-act opera, Ariane and the dark masterpiece Double Concerto is any indication of this).

Allow me to suggest a few more recordings of some chamber music for you:

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[asin]B000NOIWQW[/asin]

[asin]B003RCFCSS[/asin]

[asin]B001AYAL2C[/asin]

[asin]B000PFU8KM[/asin]

Now for some orchestral that you may/may not own:

[asin]B000025M7M[/asin]

[asin]B0000260HO[/asin]

[asin]B00006I49I[/asin]

[asin]B000VX1QFO[/asin]

[asin]B001F6YZ9U[/asin]

[asin]B01H064PUC[/asin]

[asin]B000025L3R[/asin]

Alright, I think that's enough recommendations (for now). What constantly amazes me about Martinu's music is the consistency of it. Some people say his oeuvre is uneven and, while I agree (to an extent), but to my amazement so much of this music is inspired. I know you feel that The Epic of Gilgamesh is his sole masterpiece, but I'm inclined to disagree as, for me, there is no one work that defines Martinu since his music offers the listener a kaleidoscope of varying styles and moods. He was very much a musical chameleon and that's how I like to look at him, but his compositional voice is so distinctive and it's never in question who composed the work you're listening to at that moment.

Right now, I'm trying to acquire a book of Martinu's personal letters, which will reveal much of the man behind the music. From what I've read about him, he was very quiet, shy, kind, and had zero ego. He let his music do the speaking and knew nothing of how to promote his music, but, yet, conductors and musicians who were well-known during his time flocked to him to commission works. There's a lot to be said of this and, judging from so many of the photos I've seen of him, I'll always look at Martinu as someone who smiled and enjoyed life even though the time he lived in was anything but pleasant. He always found the silver lining.

All the best to you,



John

[kishnevi]

Those will certainly make a dent in my wallet!

[Mirror Image]

Those will certainly make a dent in my wallet!

The unfortunate part of collecting Martinu is his discography is a bit of a rabbit hole since it's so vast and there really have been no kind of box sets that collect a large amount of his music with the exception of several of the symphony sets, SQ sets (there's only two cycles), and the Complete Music for Violin and Piano on Supraphon, which is a 4-CD set. Another problem comes courtesy of Supraphon and their out-of-print department. Many of these recordings in their catalogue are simply gone with what appears to be no chance of them getting reissued anytime soon.

[vandermolen]

I recently picked up a second hand copy of this CD from an online Oxfam shop. I bought it because the cover shows that it features two of my favourite Martinu works. However, when I received the CD I discovered that it also features two other works, including possibly the most moving and eloquent performance (slower than usual) of 'Memorial to Lidice' - certainly I have never felt so moved by a performance of this work. At the end of the CD is a work I've never heard before - 'Vigile', for organ from the very end of the composer's life (1959). It is Martinu's only work for organ - is sombre, reflective and moving; left incomplete at Martinu's death it was completed by its dedicatee. I like the depth to the recordings - all from live Czech Radio broadcasts. Also great cover art - one of the Frescoes of Piero della Francesca.
This is one of my very favourite Martinu discs as I like every work and think that the performances (1986-1993) are excellent.

Picture doesn't want to appear but here is the link to the UK Amazon site. The CD is much, much, much cheaper on the UK compared with the U.S. Site:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martinu-Symphony-Fresques-Piero-Francesca/dp/B0000261D6/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1511271467&sr=1-2&keywords=Martinu+valek

Ok I've managed to get the cover to appear through an act of technical wizardry 

[Mirror Image]

That sounds like an excellent disc, Jeffrey. I've seen it before, but just never got around buying it. I see that there's several copies available overseas. I might have to see if I can get a copy for a good price. Of course, I'm in no short supply of great performances of any of those works (w/ the exception of the organ work, Vigilie). I'm still recovering from the shock of Munch's 6th. What tremendous performance. Have you heard it, Jeffrey?

[vandermolen]

That sounds like an excellent disc, Jeffrey. I've seen it before, but just never got around buying it. I see that there's several copies available overseas. I might have to see if I can get a copy for a good price. Of course, I'm in no short supply of great performances of any of those works (w/ the exception of the organ work, Vigilie). I'm still recovering from the shock of Munch's 6th. What tremendous performance. Have you heard it, Jeffrey?

I think that you have to get this disc John - but don't get it from US Amazon as it will cost you over $100  . It's much cheaper on the UK site but then you have the postage. Bottom line - it's a wonderful disc of heartfelt, reflective performances. I have lots of great Martinu music to listen to at the moment 
I'm sure I've heard the Munch No.6 - he was a truly great conductor and I love his Honegger performances as well, not to mention his recording of VW Symphony 8.

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I think that you have to get this disc John - but don't get it from US Amazon as it will cost you over $100  . It's much cheaper on the UK site but then you have the postage. Bottom line - it's a wonderful disc of heartfelt, reflective performances. I have lots of great Martinu music to listen to at the moment 
I'm sure I've heard the Munch No.6 - he was a truly great conductor and I love his Honegger performances as well, not to mention his recording of VW Symphony 8.

This is a great to hear. I imagine these being excellent performances.

Munch's 6th:

https://www.youtube.com/v/nBIjHjjRf5k&list=PLG5tUnWfHasp51nJVMMs2T65WDdrWG3NH&index=5

https://www.youtube.com/v/BOWL8PsKG90&index=6&list=PLG5tUnWfHasp51nJVMMs2T65WDdrWG3NH

https://www.youtube.com/v/5_Q2uIBftTk&index=7&list=PLG5tUnWfHasp51nJVMMs2T65WDdrWG3NH

[Parsifal]

At this point I'm pretty satisfied with my collection of recordings of Martinu, except for one glaring omission, solo piano music. I like his use of piano in orchestral and chamber music, so I think I owe it to myself to look into that. Any suggestions as to what is essential?

[Mirror Image]

At this point I'm pretty satisfied with my collection of recordings of Martinu, except for one glaring omission, solo piano music. I like his use of piano in orchestral and chamber music, so I think I owe it to myself to look into that. Any suggestions as to what is essential?

I like Paul Kaspar's recordings on the Tudor label (there's three in all), but I'm afraid I don't know any other recordings. I know Koukl on Naxos seems to be rated quite highly, but I'm not a huge fan of solo piano music, so I didn't feel the need to collect every volume of that series.

I'd be curious to see what your Martinu collection looks like, Scarpia. Would it be possible to see a list of the recordings you own? I'm thinking about doing the same.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I'm a big fan of solo piano. And I'm a big fan of Martinu. So you'd think the two would be a match made in Heaven, but so far it hasn't panned out. I've explored the set below, but not lately. Probably time for a reassessment.



[asin]B000071WH3[/asin]

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I'm a big fan of solo piano. And I'm a big fan of Martinu. So you'd think the two would be a match made in Heaven, but so far it hasn't panned out. I've explored the set below, but not lately. Probably time for a reassessment.



[asin]B000071WH3[/asin]

Yeah, this is my least favorite part of his oeuvre, although I do like Puppets, Books I-III.

[Mirror Image]

Compositional Spotlight:

On tourne! (Roll the Cameras!) Ballet in 1 act, H 163



On tourne! (Roll the Cameras!) H.163 is a half-hour animated puppet and cartoon ballet. According to the composer's own instructions, the stage is supposed to be divided into an up­per section for the puppet show with maritime scenery, a boat with two sailors, and a diver; and a lower "subaquatic" section reserved for the cartoon display, featuring various species of fish and fantastic flora. All the ballet's individual sections are based on identical motivic material. The introductory subject consists of a simple broken major five-three chord, whose density is ingeniously increased by dissonances typically involving minor second intervals. This is followed by successive concertante displays for violin, oboe, piano, bassoon, and other instruments. The work's structure is simple enough: Martinu concentrates on the regular alter­nation of the motor rhythms of the neo-Baroque introductory motive with rhapsodic passages. He finished the ballet in Polička on 19 August 1927 and immediately began to write another ballet entitled Le Raid merveilleux, a score he completed in mid-September of 1927.

[http://database.martinu.cz/works/public_view/152]

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This really is a strange ballet plot-wise (as so many of them are), but a puppet/cartoon ballet?!?!? The music within is charming, clever, witty, and quite beautiful, too. There's such an element of fun in the music, which is typical of Martinu's 'French period' ballets even though it was written in Czechoslovakia. There's only one recording of the work and thankfully it's a fine one: Hogwood conducting the Czech Philharmonic. If you haven't checked out this work, then please do so!

[vandermolen]

Compositional Spotlight:

On tourne! (Roll the Cameras!) Ballet in 1 act, H 163



On tourne! (Roll the Cameras!) H.163 is a half-hour animated puppet and cartoon ballet. According to the composer's own instructions, the stage is supposed to be divided into an up­per section for the puppet show with maritime scenery, a boat with two sailors, and a diver; and a lower "subaquatic" section reserved for the cartoon display, featuring various species of fish and fantastic flora. All the ballet's individual sections are based on identical motivic material. The introductory subject consists of a simple broken major five-three chord, whose density is ingeniously increased by dissonances typically involving minor second intervals. This is followed by successive concertante displays for violin, oboe, piano, bassoon, and other instruments. The work's structure is simple enough: Martinu concentrates on the regular alter­nation of the motor rhythms of the neo-Baroque introductory motive with rhapsodic passages. He finished the ballet in Polička on 19 August 1927 and immediately began to write another ballet entitled Le Raid merveilleux, a score he completed in mid-September of 1927.

[http://database.martinu.cz/works/public_view/152]

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This really is a strange ballet plot-wise (as so many of them are), but a puppet/cartoon ballet?!?!? The music within is charming, clever, witty, and quite beautiful, too. There's such an element of fun in the music, which is typical of Martinu's 'French period' ballets even though it was written in Czechoslovakia. There's only one recording of the work and thankfully it's a fine one: Hogwood conducting the Czech Philharmonic. If you haven't checked out this work, then please do so!

I enjoyed this work. In a way it reminded me of Honegger's fine score for the animated film 'L'Idee'.

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I enjoyed this work. In a way it reminded me of Honegger's fine score for the animated film 'L'Idee'.

I must listen to that Honegger work. I know I have it (somewhere).

[kyjo]

I was just listening to Martinu's Cello Sonata no. 1 (Isserlis/Mustonen on BIS) and was completely bowled over by it! There's a relentless, motoric element to the work that I found quite thrilling, and as per usual Martinu provides the listener relief from time to time with his customary folksy lyricism. Anyone else an admirer of this work?

[Mirror Image]

I was just listening to Martinu's Cello Sonata no. 1 (Isserlis/Mustonen on BIS) and was completely bowled over by it! There's a relentless, motoric element to the work that I found quite thrilling, and as per usual Martinu provides the listener relief from time to time with his customary folksy lyricism. Anyone else an admirer of this work?

I love all three of Martinu's cello sonatas.

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There's a relentless, motoric element to the work that I found quite thrilling...

You should really check out the String Sextet.

I haven't heard this performance, but given the ensemble, I'm going to assume it's a good performance:

https://www.youtube.com/v/a9YIjVY9lgg

https://www.youtube.com/v/OH00_NmaJ9A

https://www.youtube.com/v/Tn7ViFgNQPU

[bhodges]

Another big fan of the cello sonatas. Here is an article I wrote for Juilliard on the recording that sold me, with cellist Mattia Zappa and Massimiliano Mainolfi on piano. (Happy there are other versions, which I will explore in due time.) In any case, great pieces.

https://journal.juilliard.edu/journal/cpe-bach-and-martinu-two-paths-cello-sonata

--Bruce