Ladislav Urban

Name: The Music of Bohemia
Author: Ladislav Urban

The Music of Bohemia (1919)

Summary

“The Music of Bohemia”, published in 1919, is a work by Ladislav Urban. It explores elements such as Czech, Bohemia and song.

Quotes from The Music of Bohemia (Ladislav Urban)

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ THE ORIGINAL FOLK-TUNE
It is no wonder that the richness of folk-art was overestimated in Bohemia at the beginning of the last century, and led to an error. Folk-art was confused with nationality in art. A false principle was constructed that "national art" must be based upon folk-music. [6] Thus the imitation of folk-poetry and folk-melodies was approved as the real national art. It is astonishing how long this principle, violating the natural law of progress, could endure. All works of this feverish would-be-national period belong to history. They live no more, being but imitations. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ Particular attention was paid during this period to everything that had originality and the essence of Czech culture. Music and literature had only one source—the folk-song. It was the "common" people who in the period of darkness under the feudal system had preserved their mother tongue in the unwritten folk-poetry with its unwritten tunes. It is not necessary for one to be educated in music or in literature, if his mind is emotional enough and his mouth and throat able to produce a musical sound ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ This aim the Jesuits accomplished by manufacturing new tunes and texts and by taking over for church use many of the secular Czech folk-songs. We find in the Catholic songbooks in Bohemia, songs in which a folk-tune with the folk-poetry were fitted for use in the church by changing a lover's name to that of a saint.
The so-called counter-reformation under the Jesuits was too unpopular among the Czechs to lead to the production of original spontaneous songs among the people; but at the same time there began the development of Bohemian classical music as a part of the European classical period. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ It is the Czech traditional musicianship which makes the members of these Associations sacrifice their time in exhausting rehearsals in order to secure a perfect result. Wherever they have sung, in France, Belgium, Germany, etc., the Czech Teachers have gone out victorious from the contest.
The pedagogical foundation for the education of Bohemian musicians was laid, when there was established, in the year 1811, the Conservatory of Music of Prague, which is placed now in a beautiful building, called "Rudolphinum," in the Old Town, the most ancient borough of the city of Prague. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ This institution has sent into the world a large number of excellent artists. Every leading symphony or theatrical orchestra in the world has among its members one or more Czech musicians, pupils of the Prague Conservatory. The violin class especially became famous under the leadership of Otokar Ševčík, very well known among our American students of violin. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ The new dance soon found admirers, and in the year 1835 it made its way into Prague, the Bohemian metropolis, where it received the name Polka, probably on account of the half step occurring in the dance, for the word—půlka—designates 'the half.' Four years later, in 1839, this tune, which had now become a great favorite in Prague, was carried to Vienna. The Polka now became rapidly known throughout Austria. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ Op. 27. Piano, violin, and violoncello. String quartet. D major. Op. 35.
Symphonic Works
In Tatra Mountains. Op. 26.
Slovak Suite. Op. 32.
Eternal Desire. Op. 33.
Orchestral and Vocal
The Storm. Op. 42.
The Wedding Shirt.
Operas
The Little Demon. Karlštejn. Note: The most valuable collections of Czechoslovak folk-songs especially those of Vítězslav Novák (Slovak Songs) and of V. J. Novotmý (Libické písneě) , may be found at the Webster Branch of the New Fork Public Library.
↑ Prague, the metropolis of Bohemia, preserved its reputation of eminence in musical art. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Ladislav Urban, The Music of Bohemia (1919)

“ Part III. The Death of Hippodamia. Op. 33.
Operas
The Tempest (1894) . Hedy (1895) . The Bride of Messina (1883) . Šárka (1897) . Helga and Dargun (1898) .
JOSEF SUK
Piano Works
Fantaisie Polonaise. ”

Ladislav Urban

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