From humble beginnings in the Bohemian-Moravian highlands, Bohuslav Martin暖 went on to become a distinctive voice in European music, one informed by the jazz and avant-garde scene of Paris, before he escaped to America during the war years. His prolific output 鈥� over 400 works in total 鈥� crossed all genres, ranging from symphonies and operas to ballet and film music, and displayed the influence of Impressionism and Bohemian folk music.
成人快手 broadcaster Stephen Johnson explores two absorbing examples of Martin暖鈥檚 work. The languorous mood of his early tone poem, Dream of the Past, recalls Debussy鈥檚 Prelude a l鈥檃pr猫s-midi d鈥檜n faune, whilst his Fourth Symphony, written in the closing months of the Second World War, evokes the militarism of the period as well as casting some nostalgic glances at his homeland鈥檚 folk tunes. Here the shimmering colours that became Martin暖鈥檚 calling card light the way to a joyous, uninhibited finale, reflecting the composer鈥檚 new-found optimism as peace returned.
This informal and accessible introduction to one of the world鈥檚 truly original composers is illustrated with live extracts before a complete performance of both pieces.
