Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959)

[Mirror Image]

Are you back amongst us John? 

I'll probably make my return to classical tomorrow with a possible avatar change. (surprise)

[vandermolen]

+1 to historical remarks

[vandermolen]

If any of you...



...haven't heard this recording, then, run, don't walk, right over to Amazon and buy it. It's so freakin' great. What's nice, but disappointing at the same time, is this disc offers a glimpse of Mackerras conducting some of Julietta. Beautiful recording all-around.

Coincidentally I was looking at this disc online yesterday and it does look tempting I must say. However, I already have a recording of the Suite from Juliette on the very good (and dirt cheap) CD below - which is a great programme in itself and a very good introduction to Martinu. I am annoyed to have missed an opportunity to see Juliette on stage in London in the 1970s:
[asin]B0007X9TSO[/asin]

[North Star]

Coincidentally I was looking at this disc online yesterday and it does look tempting I must say. However, I already have a recording of the Suite from Juliette on the very good (and dirt cheap) CD below - which is a great programme in itself and a very good introduction to Martinu. I am annoyed to have missed an opportunity to see Juliette on stage in London in the 1970s:

But the Mackerras disc has much more from Julietta than just the Suite which lasts 13 mins - the three fragments are 39 minutes of music, with Magdalena Kožená in the title role.

[vandermolen]

But the Mackerras disc has much more from Julietta than just the Suite which lasts 13 mins - the three fragments are 39 minutes of music, with Magdalena Kožená in the title role.

Thank you - yes, I realise that and may well still get the Mackerras CD.

[Mirror Image]

Coincidentally I was looking at this disc online yesterday and it does look tempting I must say. However, I already have a recording of the Suite from Juliette on the very good (and dirt cheap) CD below - which is a great programme in itself and a very good introduction to Martinu. I am annoyed to have missed an opportunity to see Juliette on stage in London in the 1970s:
[asin]B0007X9TSO[/asin]

Like Karlo (North Star) mentioned, there are Three Fragments from 'Julietta' that are definitely worth hearing not only for Mackerras' fantastic conducting but for the lovely Magdalena Kožená as well.

[Mirror Image]

I don't know the chamber works but the Concerto for a Double String Orchestra is a fine work which I should have included in my list. As someone who teaches History I have also been interested in Martinu's powerful music responses to the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1938 (a low point in British History) and the tragedy at Lidice following the assassination of 'The Butcher of Prague', Heydrich (a better moment in British History).

Yes, the Double Concerto is an amazing work and certainly one of his finest. You should definitely check out his chamber music, Jeffrey. You would definitely enjoy it. Check out the Nonet, the SQs, the PTs, Piano Quintets, etc. Can't go wrong any of these.

[Mirror Image]

Might as well ask everyone's Top7 Martinu

Oh what a loaded question! I'll have to think about this one for a bit.

[Ken B]

Yes, the Double Concerto is an amazing work and certainly one of his finest. You should definitely check out his chamber music, Jeffrey. You would definitely enjoy it. Check out the Nonet, the SQs, the PTs, Piano Quintets, etc. Can't go wrong any of these.

I second that.
I am continually impressed by Martinu. I think Milhaud squandered his talent with too rapid composition. Martinu was over prolific too, but wrote a very large amount of terrific music. Koukl's recordings of the piano music contains some good stuff, despite some weaker pieces.

[Mirror Image]

I second that.
I am continually impressed by Martinu. I think Milhaud squandered his talent with too rapid composition. Martinu was over prolific too, but wrote a very large amount of terrific music. Koukl's recordings of the piano music contains some good stuff, despite some weaker pieces.

Martinu, Milhaud, and Villa-Lobos were obviously three of the most prolific composers of the 20th Century, but I believe Martinu and Villa-Lobos had better consistency in their writing than Milhaud. With Milhaud, I so often get the impression of a guy who's just spinning notes for their own sake instead of going somewhere with the music. Just one barrage of notes after another.

[snyprrr]

Oh what a loaded question! I'll have to think about this one for a bit.

Ahh, from YOU I want something different!! How about you don't get to pick any obvious choices... no Symphonies... no Lidice... no Nonet... etc.,...

[Mirror Image]

Ahh, from YOU I want something different!! How about you don't get to pick any obvious choices... no Symphonies... no Lidice... no Nonet... etc.,...

Then why ask for my top 7 favorite Martinu works if I can't include works that are my favorites?

[vandermolen]

Thanks for advice.

Which chamber music score by Martinu would you recommend for starters?

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Which chamber music score by Martinu would you recommend for starters?

My favorites include:

Cello Sonatas (all 3 of 'em)
Nonet (1959)
Piano Quintet No. 2 (No. 1 is good, but No. 2 is stellar)
String Quartet No. 5
La Revue de Cuisine suite (just 5 instruments here, and a lot of fun)

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for advice.

Which chamber music score by Martinu would you recommend for starters?

An unconventional choice, but Chamber Music No. 1 -

http://www.youtube.com/v/M-92HocENN0

[snyprrr]

Then why ask for my top 7 favorite Martinu works if I can't include works that are my favorites?

We can guess those!!

C'mon,... what about that Violin/Piano Concerto from the Hyperion series that everyone was raving about- or, is one of those Violin Sonatas a masterpiece? Or,... are you just like the rest of us? I'm starting to think we've heard the end of the looong Martinu Discography, and the contenders are what they are, and there are no other hidden gems to discover. hmm

[Mirror Image]

We can guess those!!

C'mon,... what about that Violin/Piano Concerto from the Hyperion series that everyone was raving about- or, is one of those Violin Sonatas a masterpiece? Or,... are you just like the rest of us? I'm starting to think we've heard the end of the looong Martinu Discography, and the contenders are what they are, and there are no other hidden gems to discover. hmm

Hmmm...don't get ahead of yourself, snyprrr. We still don't even have a full digital performance of Julietta yet. The current recording on Supraphon is decent, but certainly not the last word on this magical opera. Also, look at how many ballets Martinu composed or just look at his oeuvre in general. It's massive! I doubt any of us could come to the conclusion that this is the end of his discography and that everything that follows now will be a work that has already been recorded. We shouldn't rule out Supraphon nor should we forget about what Toccata Classics are currently doing in the way of releasing his earlier music, which hasn't seen the light of day like this before. Anyway, I remain optimistic about Martinu's future on disc as I hope all other fans will be as well.

FYI, the reason I can't even possibly give a list of my top 7 favorite works is because there's still so much I have yet to hear. I would feel better once I sink my teeth into that Complete Music for Violin and Piano set, but I really need to revisit the SQs again as well. So much to listen to at the moment.

[snyprrr]

Hmmm...don't get ahead of yourself, snyprrr. We still don't even have a full digital performance of Julietta yet. The current recording on Supraphon is decent, but certainly not the last word on this magical opera. Also, look at how many ballets Martinu composed or just look at his oeuvre in general. It's massive! I doubt any of us could come to the conclusion that this is the end of his discography and that everything that follows now will be a work that has already been recorded. We shouldn't rule out Supraphon nor should we forget about what Toccata Classics are currently doing in the way of releasing his earlier music, which hasn't seen the light of day like this before. Anyway, I remain optimistic about Martinu's future on disc as I hope all other fans will be as well.

FYI, the reason I can't even possibly give a list of my top 7 favorite works is because there's still so much I have yet to hear. I would feel better once I sink my teeth into that Complete Music for Violin and Piano set, but I really need to revisit the SQs again as well. So much to listen to at the moment.

I was just testing your loyalty, lol! (you've GOT to stop letting me troll you like that, garf!
If I were the gatekeeper of a Monty Python movie, I would deem your answer worthy of moving on to the next level. Bravo!

When it comes to the Chamber Music, there is just so much to wade through, and not all top drawer,- and not even the 'bigger' pieces are the best- I find the little gems like the first Duo for Violin & Cello (that's on everyone's recital) or the String Sextet or one of the Serenades or Madrigals. I can't keep it straight, but, COME ON!... gaaah

[Mirror Image]

I was just testing your loyalty, lol! (you've GOT to stop letting me troll you like that, garf!
If I were the gatekeeper of a Monty Python movie, I would deem your answer worthy of moving on to the next level. Bravo!

When it comes to the Chamber Music, there is just so much to wade through, and not all top drawer,- and not even the 'bigger' pieces are the best- I find the little gems like the first Duo for Violin & Cello (that's on everyone's recital) or the String Sextet or one of the Serenades or Madrigals. I can't keep it straight, but, COME ON!... gaaah

You're absolutely right in saying that there's a lot of music to wade through. Not all of it is top-tier, but I've never heard a Martinu work that I felt bad about listening to. I think he did hit his stride very often, but when he didn't, the musical material could become rather one-dimensional and/or simply overworked, but thankfully this didn't happen too often or at least in my experience.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Might as well ask everyone's Top7 Martinu:

Some really good recommendations these last couple of pages. Should keep you busy.

I'd add my voice to some of the earlier recs:

Cello sonatas
4th symphony
All the string quartets
Oboe concerto
Gilgamesh
Julietta

And not to forget Martinu as opera composer (besides Julietta), one of my favorite Martinu discs is the following disc containing two one-act operas. The two operas couldn't be more different, not to mention they're two of the most unique works in all Martinu.

The Knife's Tears is one of Martinu's most experimental scores: angular, barbed, full of pot holes, yet never meandering or static. It's not an easy work to categorize beyond the vagueness of this.

In stark contrast, Voice Of The Forest is one of the most lyrical works from Martinu. Graceful and warm, but still familiar Martinu.

It was a great idea to pair these works together: both ends of the Martinu spectrum in one place. 



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Oh...of COURSE this disc is OOP.