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: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1006781
Flex 7 Concert
for: Flexible wind ensemble (7 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1113039
for: Woodwind ensemble
Score
Item no.: 977668
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949511
for: Concert band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1589742
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1010395
for: Clarinet [violin], horn [viola], violin, cello, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 1344304
Repertoire Explorer
for: Violin, orchestra
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1344321
Transkriptionen klassischer Musik
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1059452
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1007403
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1144725
for: Women's Choir [SSA] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1101756
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 886115
Arrangement for Soloists, Choir and Chamber Orchestra
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), chamber orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 642258
for: Flute, oboe, string orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1351788
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1013376
for: Klarinetten-Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 1647039
Violine 1
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 668430
Simrock Original Edition
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 723100
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1200959
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1144705
Book
Item no.: 1350419
Klassik
Buch
Item no.: 835123
for: Wind Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 892316
für Klarinette und Orchester
for: Clarinet, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 612987
aus "Zigeunermelodien"op. 55/7
for: Voice (low), piano
Item no.: 1538979
"From the New World"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 693652
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 200281
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 197349
Erstdruck
for: 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 bassoons (winds octet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 282799
“From the New World”
Revised new edition of score and orchestral parts
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 170074
Gyoergy Geiger - Erlebnis Trompete 23
for: Trumpet, harp [piano]
Item no.: 175832
for: Accordion
Item no.: 227919
Lied der alten Mutter, op. 101/7(1895) und 55/4(1880)
for: Salon orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 111809
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 125706
for: String orchestra
PART ST (4/4/3/2/1)
Item no.: 293844
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 575687
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 114059
for: Piano
Item no.: 103972
Item no.: 103924
Fuer Die Elektronische Orgel Nr 63
for: Electric organ
Item no.: 349507
The Great Classics
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1211156
op. 86; aus: Messe in D
Partitur
for: Soli / gemischter Chor (SATB), Orgel
Item no.: 422080
aus: Biblische Lieder
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 238095
für Posaunenquartett
for: 4 trombones [3 trombones, bass trombone]
Score, Single parts
Item no.: 1657961
Original für Violine und Klavier
String Attack
for: Double bass, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 687617
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1000682
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1172857