Bohuslav Martinu honed his songwriting craft in between composing larger orchestral works, his yearning for home reflected in the Four Songs to Czech Folk Texts written during desperate times in the Second World War. Sourced from previously unpublished manuscripts, this unique programme presents world premiere recordings of earlier songs written during summer holidays in Policka, as well as the Three Songs after Poems by Guillaume Apollinaire, long thought to e lost but miraculously unearthed just weeks before this recording. Pianist Giorgio Koukl regards these songs as similar to pearls, "born out of hardship, pain and discomfort and, after a while, becoming precious and admired."

Tracklist:

New Anthology, H. 288: No. 1, Rich Lover
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 2, Jilted Lover
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 3, Longing
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 4, A Wondering Girl
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 5, A Merry Girl
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 6, Sad Lover
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 7, Entreaty
New Anthology, H. 288: No. 8, A Tall Tower
4 Songs To Czech Folk Texts, H. 282bis: No. 1, Ponies On The Fallow Field
4 Songs To Czech Folk Texts, H. 282bis: No. 2, My Little Lost Shoe
4 Songs To Czech Folk Texts, H. 282bis: No. 3, A Religious Song
4 Songs To Czech Folk Texts, H. 282bis: No. 4, An Invitation
3 Songs After Poems By G. Apollinaire, H. 197: No. 1, La Blanche Neige
3 Songs After Poems By G. Apollinaire, H. 197: No. 2, L'adieu
3 Songs After Poems By G. Apollinaire, H. 197: No. 3, Saltimbanques
From Childhood, H. 51
4 Children's Songs & Nursery Rhymes, H. 225: No. 1, One, Two, Three
4 Children's Songs & Nursery Rhymes, H. 225: No. 2, Coo, Coo
4 Children's Songs & Nursery Rhymes, H. 225: No. 3, She Got Up, Got Up
4 Children's Songs & Nursery Rhymes, H. 225: No. 4, It's Got A Head Like A Cat
Carol Of Love, H. 259
The Jilted Maiden, H. 67
Ja&scaron;ek's Song, H. 37
Talk To Me Further, H. 66
2 Ballads To Folk Texts, H. 228: No. 1, Traveling Fiddlers
2 Ballads To Folk Texts, H. 228: No. 2, The Orphan
You Write To Me, H. 48
Best Wishes To Mamma, H. 279bis
2 Songs, H. 213bis: No. 1, Sickly Autumn
2 Songs, H. 213bis: No. 2, Peach Blossom
3 Songs For Christmas, H. 184bis: No. 1, The Hen
3 Songs For Christmas, H. 184bis: No. 2, The Chick
3 Songs For Christmas, H. 184bis: No. 3, The Kitten
Vocalise-Étude, H. 188

UPC: 747313382378
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 3.9.18
Format: CD

Jana Hrochová - Complete Songs (CD)