Composers from the regions around the present-day Czech Republic have left a lasting impact on music. In this exploration, we will delve into their history and influence from medieval times to the present. We’ll listen to a wide range of compositions, from an Anonymous composer’s “Nobis Est Natus Hodie” from the Codex “Speciálník” performed by Early Music New York to Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances performed by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. We will also enjoy works by Bedřich Smetana, Josef Suk, plus many other Bohemian composers
Czech out those Bohemians
Playlist
Episode 1
Bells of Saints Peter And Paul in Vyšehrad
Mirabile Mysterium (Sacred Music In Rudolfine Prague)
Supraphon 0192-2 231
1:14
Smetana: Má Vlast
Vltava
Cleveland Orchestra/Szell
CBS 36716
1:09 (excerpt)
Anonymous: attr. Saint Vojtech (St. Adalbert): “Hospodine, Pomiluj Ny”
The Rose Ensemble
Slavic Holiday – Legends from Ancient Bohemia and Poland
Rose 00003
0:52
Codex Speciálník: “Nobis Est Natus Hodie”
Early Music New York
Ex Cathedra 14-10346-0
2:50
Codex Speciálník: “In Natali Domini”
The Rose Ensemble
Slavic Holiday – Legends from Ancient Bohemia and Poland
Rose 00003
2:41
Codex Speciálník: “Ave Pura Tu Puella”
The Hilliard Ensemble
CODEX SPECIÁLNÍK
ECM 1504
3:19
Codex Speciálník: “Náš Mily Svaty Václave”
Early Music New York
Ex Cathedra 14-10346-0
5:09
Anonymous: Late 14th century: “Czaldy Waldy”
Early Music New York
Ex Cathedra 14-10346-0
3:00
15th-century Hussite war song “Ktož jsú boží bojovníci
(Those Who Are God’s Warriors)
N/A
1:15
Hus, John: Communion Hymn
Los Angeles Trombone Ensemble
Crystal 220
2:37
Anonymous: “Through Mountains And Valleys”
Slavic Projection Folk Ensemble
Through Mountains And Valleys
SP 705
2:29
Isaac, Heinrich: “La Morra”
Concentus Musicus Wien/Harnoncourt
Music From The Court Of Emperor Maximilian I
Archiv Production (DG) 474233
1:21
Michna, Adam: The Czech Music for the Virgin Mary
Musica Bohemica and Prague Chamber Chorus/Krček
Mihalikova, soprano, Brezina, tenor
Loutna Česká (The Czech Lute)
Supraphon 3657
13:29 (excerpts)
Biber, Franz: Battalia for Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo in D major
Le Concert Des Nations/Savall
Biber: Battalia à 10 & Requiem à 15
Alia Vox 9825
7:33 (excerpts)
Episode 2
Biber, Franz: Requiem À 15
Marcia Funebre, Kyrie Eleison
Le Concert Des Nations and La Capella Reial De Catalunya/Savall
Biber: Battalia à 10 & Requiem à 15
Alia Vox 9825
4:25
Biber, Franz: Sonata Representativa in A Major
Musica Antiqua Köln/Goebel
Mensa Sonora, Sonata Representativa
Ark 423 701 2
8:18
Zelenka, Jan Dismas: Requiem, ZWV 48
Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei
Ensemble Baroque 1994 and Czech Chamber Choir/Roman Valek
Requiem In D Minor • Miserere In C Minor
Supraphon SU 0052-2-231
7:46
Zelenka, Jan Dismas: Capriccio ZWV 185
Andante, Paysan
Virtuosi Saxoniae/Güttler
Zelenka: Missa Dei Patris, Psalms & Capriccio’s
Brilliant Classics 94691
3:53
Benda, Jan Jiři: Concerto in G for Violin and Strings
II. Grave, III. Allegro
The Benda Musicians; A. F. Benda, violin
Benda & Benda: Violin Concertos
Naxos 8.553902
6:27
Benda, František: Sonata in A for Cello and Harpsichord
II. Affettuoso, III. Presto ma non troppo
The Benda Musicians; C. Benda, violin cello
Pantheon 7167
5:22
Benda, Jiri Antonín : Concerto in B minor for Piano and Strings, I.
The Benda Musicians; Sebastian Benda, piano
Pantheon 7167
7:14
Benda, František: Sonata For Flute And Harpsichord
Vivace, Adagio
Rampal, flute; Veyron-Lacroix, harpsichord
Ten Sonatas For Flute And Harpsichord
Priceless 24789
2:44; 0:25 (excerpt)
Episode 3
Tůma, František Ignác: Partita in D minor for Orchestra
IV. Menuet, Trio
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Kubelik
Rafael Kubelík And Old Czech Masters
Supraphon 3381-2 001
2:39
Tůma, František Ignác: Sonata A 3 In A Minor
I. Vivace
Concerto Italiano/Alessandrini, violin
France: Sonata No. 2 Op. 35 · Études Op. 25 · Préludes Op. 28
Naïve 30456
1:57
Gluck, Christoph Willibald: Orfeo ed Euridice
“Che Farò Senza Euridice?”
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Norrington; Scholl, countertenor
Heroes
L’oiseau Lyre 466196
3:38
Mysliveček, Josef: Sinfonia in F
II. Andante
Prague Chamber Orchestra/Vlček
Supraphon 11 0304-2 011
4:08
Mysliveček, Josef: L’Olimpiade
“Che non mi disse un dil”
Prague Philharmonia/Świerczewski; Kozená, mezzo soprano
Sinfonias
DG 471334-2
3:12
Vaňhal, Jan Křtitel: Symphony in G minor
Finale (excerpt)
Prague Chamber Orchestra/Vlček
Symphonies In A Major · G Minor · D Major
Supraphon 11 0756
1:16
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Symphony No. 38 In D, K 504, Prague
I. Adagio-Allegro (excerpt)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Levine
Symphonien No.38 “Prager” • 39
DG 423 086
3:08
Krommer, Franz: Octet in B-flat, Op. 78
IV. Pesto
Sabine Meyer Wind Ensemble
Krommer: Octets, Partita in C, Op.76 / Partita in E flat, Op. 71 /
Partita in F, Op. 57 / Partita in B flat, Op. 78
EMI 543832
3:51
Reicha, Anton: Requiem Mass
Dies Irae, Tuba Mirum
Dvorak Chamber Orchestra/Mátl
Supraphon 11 0332-2231
3:15
Reicha, Anton: 18 Variations on a Theme of Mozart
Rampal, flute; Stern, violin; Rostropovich, violoncello
Mozart • Telemann • J.C. Bach • Reicha
Sony 44568
1:45; 0:51 (excerpt)
Voříšek, Jan Vaclav Hugo: Symphony In D Major
I. Allegro con brio
Czech National Symphony Orchestra/Freeman
Symphony in D, Mass in B-Flat
Cedille 90000 058
7:45
Ryba, Jakub Jan: Czech Christmas Mass Sanctus, Finale
Czech Madrigalists Orchestra & Choir/Thuri
Czech Christmas Mass / Missa Pastoralis
Naxos 8.554428
4:47
Smetana, Bedřich: Polka No. 4
Rudolf Firkusny, piano
Czech Polkas And Dances
EMI 66069
2:45
Smetana, Bedřich: The Bartered Bride
Dance of the Comedians “Skočná”
Czech Philharmonic/Neumann
Prague Gala Concert
Orfeo 180891
2:19
Smetana, Bedřich: Má Vlast Vyšehrad
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Kubelik
My Country
Supraphon 1910-2 031
1:51
Episode 4
Smetana, Bedřich: Má Vlast
Vltava
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Kubelik
My Country
Supraphon 1910-2 031
11:39
Smetana, Bedřich: String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, “From My Life”
I. Allegro vivo appassionato
Panocha Quartet
Miniatures
Supraphon 3391-2 131
7:11
Dvořák, Antonin: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46- No. 8 in G minor
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Kubelik
Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & Slavonic Dances Op. 72
DG 469 760-2
4:04
Dvořák, Antonin: Piano Trio No. 4 in minor, Op. 90, “Dumky”
Perlman, violin; Ma, violoncello; Firkusny, piano
Slavonic Dances Op. 46 & Slavonic Dances Op. 72
Sony 46687
3:52 (excerpt)
Suk, Josef: Meditation on an Old Czech Hymn
Virtuosi di Praga/Vlcek
Serenade For String Orchestra & Meditation On An Old Czech
Hymn “St. Wenceslas” / Suite For String Orchestra
Discover 920234
6:00
Janáček, Leoš: Suite for Wind Sextet, “Mladi”
I. Allegro
Aulos Bläserquintett
Volume V
Koch 310 051
3:42
Janaček, Leoš: Glagolitic Mass
I. Introduction, II. Kyrie, III. Slava
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus/Mackerras; soloists
Glagolitic Mass
Supraphon 103575-2
12:44
Fibich, Zdeněk: Poem for Orchestra
Kölner Rundfunkorchester
1:20
Episode 5
Kurka, Robert: The Good Soldier Schweik
Chicago Opera Theater/Platt
Good Soldier Schweik
Cedille 62
1:12 (excerpt)
Weinberger, Jaromír: Schwanda the Bagpiper
Polka and Fugue
New York Philharmonic/Stokowski
Stokowski New York Philharmonic
Cala 0537
7:31
Martinů, Bohuslav: Divertimento For Piano
I. Allegro moderato, II. Andante
Prague Symphony Orchestra/Vostrak; Jilek, piano
5 Serenades
Supraphon 3643
4:58
Martinů, Bohuslav: Memorial to Lidice
Prague Symphony Orchestra/Vostrak; Jilek, piano
5 Serenades
Supraphon 3694
8:41
Ullman, Viktor: Don Quixote
Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne/Conlon
Symphony No. 2 / 6 Lieder, Op. 17 / Concerto for Orchestra / Don Quixote tanzt Fandango (Banse, Cologne Gurzenich Orchestra, Conlon)
Capriccio 67017
4:04 (excerpt)
Klein, Gideon: Duo for Violin and Cello
Lento
Josef Spacek (violin), Tomas Jamnik (cello)
Paths
Supraphon SU3042
2:36
Schulhoff, Erwin: Suite For Chamber Orchestra:
Ragtime, Step (Without Music) & Jazz
Ebony Band Amsterdam/Herbers
Ensemble Works – Volume 1
Channel Classics 6994
4:37
Husa, Karel: Music For Prague 1968
IV. Toccata and Chorale
Temple University Wind Symphony/Chodoroff
Temple University Wind Symphony – Chodoroff, Conductor
Albany Troy 271
7:40
“Ktož jsú boží bojovníci” (Those Who Are God’s Warriors)
15th-century Hussite war song
0:30 (excerpt)
Trad.: Czech National Anthem (excerpt)
2:14
Foerster, Josef Bohuslav: Deborah
Polka
Prague Symphony Orchestra/Smetacek
Famous Czech Miniatures (Poem•Love Song•Humoresque)
Supraphon 10-1429-2
1:54 (excerpt)