The 19th century stands for industrialization, change and revolution throughout Europe, but also for the struggle for national identity and self-determination. Against the background of forced Germanization, and the suppression of an independent Czech culture in the German, Austrian, Hungarian region, composers such as Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák embodied Czech Romanticism in the music world. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all the wonderful music by Czech romantic composers today.
The struggle for a true Czech national identity became the decisive engine driving change in Czech society and culture. Music proved to be an excellent instrument for expressing this new national movement, and was perfected by the most important representatives of Czech romanticism:
One of the greatest Czech nationalist composers Bedřich Smetana was actually born into a German family, and baptized “Friedrich”. As a young man he spoke only a little Czech. It was this ’German Czech’ who became the founder of Czech national music, and also the conductor of the Czech National Theater in Prague. The programmatic cycle of the symphonic poems “My Fatherland” with the movement Vltava is known to every schoolchild in the Czech Republic today.
Just as Smetana contributed to the formation of a national identity within the Czech region, Antonín Dvořák was also instrumental in the popularization of Czech music around Europe and further afield. Dvořák is arguably the most famous Czech composer of all time, and one of the few who became famous in Europe, Russia and the USA during his lifetime. Dvořák’s music is characterized by a combination of precise compositional craftsmanship and unique Slavic melodies. Dvořák’s Symphonies and symphonic poems are part of the core repertoire of all orchestras around the world today.
More influential yet lesser-known Czech romantic composers include Zdeněk Fibich and Josef Suk. Take a look at Piano Works by Zdeněk Fibich and Chamber Music by Josef Suk, which are real hidden gems.
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1059607
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score
Item no.: 646066
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 114179
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1109002
für Orchester
Viola
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678258
Harmonia-Men's Choir
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 911684
Klassik
for: Woodwind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1352640
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1593914
Second Movement - Menuetto
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1593906
(Urtext)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Solo part(s)
Item no.: 158670
aus: Biblische Lieder
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 238131
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 127163
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Item no.: 229079
op. 39
for: Orchestra
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 760184
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 443150
for: String orchestra
PART ST (2/2/1/1/1)
Item no.: 361124
for: Piano
Item no.: 114176
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, cello
Set of parts
Item no.: 559152
for: 4 string instruments
Study score
Item no.: 1355902
aus: Biblische Lieder
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 238130
for: 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos (sextet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 1202209
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Set of parts
Item no.: 370807
Repertoire Explorer
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1344217
Repertoire Explorer
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1344184
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 888369
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 1006293
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1005726
op. 46
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 1356801
for: String orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1646577
for: 2 Violoncelli and Piano
Book
Item no.: 163735
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1016580
for: Solo (S/T) und Männerchor (TBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1539014
Klassik
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1540540
for: 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Horns, 2 Bassoons, Double Bassoon
Score, Parts
Item no.: 866096
für Streichorchester
Urtextausgabe
for: String orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678717
“From the New World”
Revised new edition of score and orchestral parts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 366895
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 658008
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 658003
(Urtext)
for: Symphonic orchestra
Solo part(s)
Item no.: 210717
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1590305
for: Voice, piano
Book
Item no.: 1006723
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1213356
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 874239
3. "Golden cornfields"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 782693
for: Salon orchestra
Additional parts
Item no.: 326071
for: Salon orchestra
Piano score (conductor)
Item no.: 182702