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Donald Macleod follows the dramatic events of Martinu's flight from war-torn Europe to America, where he begins to write symphonies.

Caught up in the events of the Second World War, Bohuslav Martinu spent the majority of his life living in exile. When he was born in 1890, the little town of Policka was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A period of independence for Czechoslovakia came to an end when, in 1938, Hitler annexed part of the country to Germany. By the time of Martinu's death in 1959, he was living in Switzerland, where he was receiving treatment for cancer and the Communists had assumed power in his homeland. Yet, despite his protracted absence, Martinu remained spiritually attached to his homeland and readily acknowledged the influence of its music. But equally, as we'll hear across this week, Martinu's music expresses a rich diversity of styles. From his years spent in Paris there are works informed by the popularity of jazz and by Debussy and Stravinsky in the swinging 1920s. When he moved to the United States he turned to symphonic writing. On his return to Europe, he was drawn to Renaissance Art and produced chamber music, basking in the warmth of Nice as well as turning to the poetry of his beloved homeland. Drawing on all these experiences, Martinu was a prolific composer who worked ceaselessly at his craft. He produced a treasury of more than four hundred works across every conceivable form and instrumentation, which reflect not only his roots but his thirst for novelty and inspiration.

After a perilous journey of some months' duration, the Martinus eventually arrived in America. Unable to speak the language, exhausted and penniless, Martinu set about establishing himself as a composer all over again.

Aj, stupaj (Czech Madrigals)
Brno Academy Choir
Jaroslav Kyzlink, conductor

Fantaisie et Toccata
Rudolf Firkusny, piano

Memorial to Lidice
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek, conductor

Trio in F for flute, cello and piano
The Dartington Ensemble

Symphony No. 4 (2nd movement)
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi, conductor.