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B.Martinů: The Voice of the Forest
Jelínková, Olga ; Podskalský, Miloslav (advisor) ; Podskalský, Miloslav (advisor) ; Jonášová, Jana (referee)
In 2009 we hold anniversaries for many composers, for example G.F.Händel, Henry Purcell, J.Haydn and Felix Mandelssohn-Bartholdy. In this abundance of celebrations we should not overlook the 50th anniversaryof Bohuslav Martinů´s death. Czech composer B. Martinů ( 1890 - 1959) was one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. He was born and grew up in Polička . In 1923 he left his country of birth to study with Albert Roussel in Paris, where he lived for the next 17 years. In 1941 he emigrated to the States, fleeing the German invasion of France. He wrote for leading American orchestras in the following decade. He became homesick bud he never returned to his homeland. Martinů spent his later years in Switzerlandand and he died at age of 69 in Liestal. He wrote almost 400 pieces ( symphonies, operas, ballet and a large number of orchestral, chamber, vocal and vocal- instrumental works). His Epic of Gilgamesh, Field Mass, The Opening of the Wells, and his operas Julietta and The Greek Passion are highly regarded. His music displays a wide variety of influences ( expressionism, constructivism,hazz) and often reflects sensitivy to Czech folk music. Ot is characterized by the freedom of its melodies, the vigor of its rhythms, and the transparency of its textures. This diploma thesis deals of Martinů ´s little known one-act radio opera The Voice of the Forest ( Hlas Lesa). The libretto of the opera is written by the czech poet Vítězslav Nezval. This short experimental work was written specifically for radio performance in 1935. It called for a good articulation and different treatment of dramatic time than would be typical for a staged work. In contrast to the wildy extravagant libretto, the music is fine, lyric and tonal, expressing the characters ´emotions without irony, but with neverending optimism.
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