Click here to say something nice about Bohuslav Martinu

[IcedNote]

Here's another composer who I'm finally getting around to spending some time with. Really, really liking what I've heard so far...which is to say that I like Symphony 1, Symphony 4, and the Concertino for Piano and Orchestra. I also have the scores to Symphonies 2, 3, and 6, but those will have to wait until tomorrow. He's a creative fellow who hasn't outstayed his welcome in any of the three pieces (*cough* Bruckner *cough*), nor do I think he's too A.D.D. for his own good. Also, his harmonies are definitely spicy for this traditional framework he's working with, but he controls them enough to always keep that sense of direction.

Care to chime in?

-G

[Donaldopato]

Anything of Martinu's I have heard has been at least enjoyable, usually much better than that.

Explore the Frescoes of Piero della Francesca, The Musique de Chambre # 1 (there is no #2), Memorial to Lidice, the Sinfonia "La Jolla" for Piano and chamber orchestra, the string quartets.... just to start.

[stenka razin]

Martinu is a great composer with an unmistackable style. His music is always recognizable and always a pleasure to listen to. I love his 6 Symphonies, especially the magnificent 4th and the rhapsodic and enchanting 6th. His Frescoes has been a favorite of mine since Kubelik's wonderful LP from the late 50's. Also, Julietta is a gorgeous opera. I love Martinu.


Regards,
Mel

[maestrob]

Agree that Martinu was a first-rate composer: his individual rhythmic and harmonic style stand out among XXth Century composers. His Fourth Symphony is his best (when done well) as are the Frescoes and Sixth Symphony. The chamber music is entertaining without being vapid.

The Turnovsky version of IV is the one to have: it's just recently been re-issued by Warner.

Kathryn Selby has an excellent recording out on Naxos of some chamber works:

[johnQpublic]

Well, 1st-rate isn't my feeling. As most overly prolific composers go, his output can have an uneven quality depending on the piece or section of a piece. So when he's good, he's very, very good, but he wrote too much, too quickly for all of it to be such.

[Chalkperson]

Well, 1st-rate isn't my feeling. As most overly prolific composers go, his output can have an uneven quality depending on the piece or section of a piece. So when he's good, he's very, very good, but he wrote too much, too quickly for all of it to be such.

Agreed, if only he had written far less...

[absinthe]

Say something good?

He dresses smartly.... for a composer. I'd probably lend him some money.

[Bro]

Beats Arnold Bax.

[Donaldopato]

One of his favorite students was Burt Bacharach... also Alan Hovhaness.

[slofstra]

One of his favorite students was Burt Bacharach... also Alan Hovhaness.

Do you know the way to Polička? I've been away so long ...

[JackCraw]

Say something good?

He dresses smartly.... for a composer. I'd probably lend him some money.

Yes, but lock up your daughter!

And another vote for the Turnovsky Sym No. 4 - indispensable.

Jack

[Lance]

I have grown to be very fond of Martinu's music. There's a piece about Kitchen Cuisine that knocked me over, and I have collected much of his music ever since.

[IcedNote]

Ha! Just realized that today is his birthday.

-G

[jbuck919]

Yawn. (But it's a nice yawn.)

[PJME]

Surely Martinu wrote easily and quickly ( cfr. Milhaud), and not all works classify as top drawer.
But he definitely is a master : from lighthearted music ( Sinfonietta Giocosa, Sinfonietta la jolla, Revue de cuisine etc) to grandly dramatic, deeply felt compositions: pianoconcerto nr 4, Gilgamesh, The Greek tragedy, symphonies (2,4,5,6). The double concerto (piano, timpani, strings).

The early patriotic cantata : Czech rhapsody is really superb in a late Romantic, grandiloquent style, and the cantata "Bouquet of flowers" is a lovely setting of folktexts.

P.

[Wallingford]

His work falls more pleasurably on the ear than most colleagues of his generation (or prior, even).

[Seán]

I love his symphonic works.

[aurora]

Every now & then I go to the library & take out CD's of (mostly the chamber music of) less familiar composers .... Martinu was one of them. I'd always liked his Madrigals for violin & viola and his Revue de Cuisine... but there's stuff that didn't grab me so much, like his viola 5tets.
On the CD that I got with the Madrigals there was also his oboe 4tet, for oboe, violin, cello & piano.... completely unknown to me at the time but I've since bought the sheet music & worked on it at a chamber music workshop. A really fun piece.

[IcedNote]

I've been through the Double Concerto several times this past week. Really, really enjoying it. Quite powerful, and I'm enjoying this darker side of his harmony quite a bit.

-G

[John F]

Yawn. (But it's a nice yawn.)

I'm with stenka razin about Martinu. Do you know his 6th symphony? It really haunts me, especially this first movement.