Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)

[Brahmsian]

Although my ears are still adjusting to his very unique soundworld, a very rewarding first listen through Martinu's 7 string quartets! 

[brewski]

I'm a big fan of the composer but don't think I've heard a single one of the quartets. But your comments and those of DavidW are making me want to fix that in a hurry.

-Bruce

[vers la flamme]

I have heard all of the quartets at least once or twice but unfortunately I don't remember a note from any of them. I'll have to try again with them sometime soon.

[vers la flamme]

As I'm enjoying Martinů's symphonies very much at the moment, I wanted to ask: what are some great Martinů pieces that are not symphonies (or string quartets)...?

[DavidW]

As I'm enjoying Martinů's symphonies very much at the moment, I wanted to ask: what are some great Martinů pieces that are not symphonies (or string quartets)...?

I love his cello sonatas.

[Brian]

Agreed with the cello stuff.

Early impressionist Debussy and Ravel inspired:
The song cycles Nipponari and Magic Nights

From about the same period as the symphonies:
Overture (only 6 minutes)
Piano Concerto No. 4 (really mystical, primitivist, wild)
Piano Concertos 3 and 5 (more conventional)
Violin Concerto No. 2
Sinfonietta La Jolla

From the period of Symphony No. 6 and late life:
The Parables
The Frescoes
Estampes
(There is a terrific recent Supraphon disc that combines four of the works I have listed, though stylistically they are all so similar that you should try one first before committing to the bunch)

The late masterpiece that offers a more relaxed, wise, valedictory summation of his career:
Nonet

On the next level for further exploration:
The piano quintets

[DavidW]

I can vouch for the piano quintets.  Great music.

I was curious and looked up what Idagio considered his most popular work, at least among their streamers.  It is the Sonata for Flute and Piano.  I gave it a listen.  The work is an attractive piece that is not as complex and challenging as some of his other works.  I listened to this recording:

[relm1]

As I'm enjoying Martinů's symphonies very much at the moment, I wanted to ask: what are some great Martinů pieces that are not symphonies (or string quartets)...?

I love these quite a bit if you like the symphonies:
Martinů: Nipponari, Magic Nights, Czech Rhapsody
Vanishing Midnight

[Todd]

I'm rather a fan of Martinu.  Some discographical highlights for me:



A masterpiece.  Honeck's version is the go to.  (OK, I've heard only one other and I think there are only two others.)



Memorial to Lidice is one of the most formidable war compositions written and recorded.  Eschenbach's take surpasses even Ancerl's.











One of the 4-5 best song recital discs I've heard. 





The Prazak recorded 3, 6, & 7.  The Panocha and the Prazak are two of the great quartets of the digital recording age, and both are equally compelling.  I've not had a chance to do A/Bs, but if prior such comparisons are and indication, they are essentially qualitative equals.

[Symphonic Addict]

This double-CD contains some of his best chamber music other than the string quartets, piano trios and cello sonatas, all of it wonderfully performed. It has the best Three Madrigals (Duo No. 1) for violin and viola I've ever heard.

[vandermolen]

This is my favourite Martinu CD.
I was interested to read that Martin Turnovsky (great name) only died, at an advanced age in 2021. I enjoyed this extract from his Wiki entry:

'On one occasion, he was sitting in the audience when another conductor had to pull out at the last minute. He was called upon to conduct the entire performance, although not having his glasses with him, did so entirely from memory.[2]
He died on 19 May 2021 in Vienna, aged 92.[2]'

I like Todd's list above although I don't know all the recordings. Certainly the Epic of Gilgamesh (wonderful cover image) is a highlight for me along with symphonies 2 and 6.

[Luke]

This is my favourite Martinu CD.

I was interested to read that Martin Turnovsky (great name) only died, at an advanced age in 2021. I enjoyed this extract from his Wiki entry:

'On one occasion, he was sitting in the audience when another conductor had to pull out at the last minute. He was called upon to conduct the entire performance, although not having his glasses with him, did so entirely from memory.[2]
He died on 19 May 2021 in Vienna, aged 92.[2]'

My favourite too. From childhood. It sat on my father's LP shelves and for some reason I was grabbed by the title of the Tre Ricercare the first few times, but the pieces themselves didn't do a huge amount for me and, with my childish attention span, I never flipped the LP over. Then one day I put on the Fourth instead and... well, since then day it has consistently been one of my favourite recordings of anything, ever. Luminous, perfectly weighted, perfectly balanced, playful and playfully profound, it's addictive and I adore it. I'm not generally much of a recordings buff - just me, but I tend to concentrate on the composers and the music to the extent that much of the time I am relatively deaf to nuances between  performers, even though I can hear them and even though of course I have my own favourites - but this one is so good that even with my tin-ears I can't ignore it. It encapsulates the unique Martinu sound wonderfully: capricious, compulsive, grave, wide-eyed, with those infectious rhythms and harmonic turns. Anecdotally, I think it did the same for a lot of listeners, actually. I still listen to it a great deal - it is still in the car at the moment, where I used a few days ago to get me through the Monday morning drive to work. And funnily enough, I too was feeling a bit curious about Turnovsky who, despite conducting one of my favourite recordings, I knew almost nothing about, so I, too, looked up that same Wikipedia article a few days ago. Great minds, eh....

[vandermolen]

My favourite too. From childhood. It sat on my father's LP shelves and for some reason I was grabbed by the title of the Tre Ricercare the first few times, but the pieces themselves didn't do a huge amount for me and, with my childish attention span, I never flipped the LP over. Then one day I put on the Fourth instead and... well, since then day it has consistently been one of my favourite recordings of anything, ever. Luminous, perfectly weighted, perfectly balanced, playful and playfully profound, it's addictive and I adore it. I'm not generally much of a recordings buff - just me, but I tend to concentrate on the composers and the music to the extent that much of the time I am relatively deaf to nuances between  performers, even though I can hear them and even though of course I have my own favourites - but this one is so good that even with my tin-ears I can't ignore it. It encapsulates the unique Martinu sound wonderfully: capricious, compulsive, grave, wide-eyed, with those infectious rhythms and harmonic turns. Anecdotally, I think it did the same for a lot of listeners, actually. I still listen to it a great deal - it is still in the car at the moment, where I used a few days ago to get me through the Monday morning drive to work. And funnily enough, I too was feeling a bit curious about Turnovsky who, despite conducting one of my favourite recordings, I knew almost nothing about, so I, too, looked up that same Wikipedia article a few days ago. Great minds, eh....

HAHA Great minds indeed Luke. After playing the LP of the 4th symphony I always yanked the LP off before the Tre Ricercare came on!

[Brian]

Seconding that Benackova/Firkusny song recital, especially. And the Hyperion set is the Nonet recording I have.

My favourite too. From childhood. It sat on my father's LP shelves and for some reason I was grabbed by the title of the Tre Ricercare the first few times, but the pieces themselves didn't do a huge amount for me and, with my childish attention span, I never flipped the LP over.

This is a little bit like how my father had a Monty Python VHS with two episodes of Flying Circus, but the gap between the two episodes was so long on the tape that I watched the first episode probably 8-10 times before ever seeing the second one. I think I only found out about the second one when I was too slow grabbing the remote control.

(The first episode was "How to Recognize Different Parts of the Body" and the "B" side was "Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris' Ford Popular.")

[Pohjolas Daughter]

My favourite too. From childhood. It sat on my father's LP shelves and for some reason I was grabbed by the title of the Tre Ricercare the first few times, but the pieces themselves didn't do a huge amount for me and, with my childish attention span, I never flipped the LP over. Then one day I put on the Fourth instead and... well, since then day it has consistently been one of my favourite recordings of anything, ever. Luminous, perfectly weighted, perfectly balanced, playful and playfully profound, it's addictive and I adore it. I'm not generally much of a recordings buff - just me, but I tend to concentrate on the composers and the music to the extent that much of the time I am relatively deaf to nuances between  performers, even though I can hear them and even though of course I have my own favourites - but this one is so good that even with my tin-ears I can't ignore it. It encapsulates the unique Martinu sound wonderfully: capricious, compulsive, grave, wide-eyed, with those infectious rhythms and harmonic turns. Anecdotally, I think it did the same for a lot of listeners, actually. I still listen to it a great deal - it is still in the car at the moment, where I used a few days ago to get me through the Monday morning drive to work. And funnily enough, I too was feeling a bit curious about Turnovsky who, despite conducting one of my favourite recordings, I knew almost nothing about, so I, too, looked up that same Wikipedia article a few days ago. Great minds, eh....

That's a great recording!  I have it on this Supraphon CD:

[Pohjolas Daughter]

This is my favourite Martinu CD.
I was interested to read that Martin Turnovsky (great name) only died, at an advanced age in 2021. I enjoyed this extract from his Wiki entry:

'On one occasion, he was sitting in the audience when another conductor had to pull out at the last minute. He was called upon to conduct the entire performance, although not having his glasses with him, did so entirely from memory.[2]
He died on 19 May 2021 in Vienna, aged 92.[2]'

I like Todd's list above although I don't know all the recordings. Certainly the Epic of Gilgamesh (wonderful cover image) is a highlight for me along with symphonies 2 and 6.

Thanks for sharing that story!

PD

[vandermolen]

Thanks for sharing that story!

PD

I have that fine 'Great Czech Conductors' set as well.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have that fine 'Great Czech Conductors' set as well.

Wonder how many they released in that series and whether or not they'll put out other ones?  I have the Turnovsky, Sejna, and Kubelik ones.

PD

[vandermolen]

Wonder how many they released in that series and whether or not they'll put out other ones?  I have the Turnovsky, Sejna, and Kubelik ones.

PD

Not too sure PD. I think that I just have the Turnovsky.
PS I have the Kubelik as well.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Not too sure PD. I think that I just have the Turnovsky.

I just took a look on their website; they only showed those three.

PD