Martinů - Cello Concertos Nos.1 & 2

Martinů's two cello concertos recorded by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Angerlica May under conducting of Václav Neumann. It is mmediately recognizable voice. Martinů's music is a cross between Neo-Romanticism and the neo-Baroque, while his melody is intensely lyrical and draws some inspiration from Czech folk music. Recurring syncopated fragments are often the defining characteristic of his faster movements. The music and the performances here are more than do the music justice and this outstanding release would serve as good a place as any to illuminate Martinů's highly attractive compositional style.

MCC

Novák - Autumn Symphony

Vítězslav Novák (1870-1949): Autumn Symphony, Op. 62 (1931-1934) for male and female chorus and orchestra by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Karel Ančerl. It's a reflection on the brevity of life and passing of time, work of balancing life, consolation and celebration of joys and beauties that life has brought but also still can bring. The first eight minutes of the 2nd movement are purely orchestral and make an ouverture to the vocal scene of Moravian folk festivity. Not long after beginning melodic and rhytmic elements of Moravian folk music appear and Novák's complex polyphony gets a dancing temperament with the specific tinge gradually.

NAS

Novák - Slovácká suita

Vítězslav Novák (December 5, 1870 – July 18, 1949) was one of the most well-respected Czech composers and pedagogues, almost singlehandedly founding a Czech 20th century  school of composition. Stylistically, he was a leading figure in the Neo-Romanticism movement, occasionally considered an early example of Czech modernism. Slovácká suita (Slovak suite) pro malý orchestr, op. 32 was composed in 1903.

NSS