Presents
Bohuslav Martinů
Serenade No.2 H.216
For 2 Violins and Viola
Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959) was born in the Czech town of Polička. He studied violin briefly at the Prague Conservatory but was expelled for failure to diligently pursue his studies and from then on studied privately. During WWI, he worked as a teacher and then served as a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1923 he emigrated to Paris and became a pupil of Albert Roussel. When France was invaded by Germany he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York where he continued composing and taught at the Mannes College of Music. Among his many students was Alan Hovhaness. In 1953 Martinů returned to Europe.
Unusual instrumentations were by no means the exception in the chamber music works of Bohuslav Martinů, most notably the works he wrote in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s being characterized by his experimentation with sound and form. It is from this period that four short serenades also originate, of which the Serenade No. 2 was composed in 1932. The work is in three short movements, opening with a bright and upbeat Allegro. Considerable double-stopping and repeated phrases dominate the movement. The middle movement, Poco andante, is lyrical, calm, and rather romantic with a striking somewhat mystical middle section. The concluding movement, Allegro con brio, bursts forth with a powerful series of double stops. The music is powerful, full of energy and quite compelling.
This is a first rate 20th century tonal work for this little served combination and we warmly recommended to both professionals and amateurs
Parts: $14.95
Parts & Score: $19.95
