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.
D
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1666182
G
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1665907
for: String orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1646577
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1646581
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1646580
for: String orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1646578
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1646579
op. 22
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1646576
Arie aus der Oper „Rusalka“ op. 114 für Sopran und Klavier
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 1672694
Das bekannte Largo aus der Symphonie “Neue Welt” von Antonín Dvořák in einer Bearbeitung für Soloinstrument und Orgel von Alexander Därr.
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1684821
Das bekannte Largo aus der Symphonie “Neue Welt” von Antonín Dvořák in einer Bearbeitung für Soloinstrument und Orgel von Alexander Därr.
for: Clarinet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1684809
Das bekannte Largo aus der Symphonie “Neue Welt” von Antonín Dvořák in einer Bearbeitung für Soloinstrument und Orgel von Alexander Därr.
for: Oboe, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1684819
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615889
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1696768
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: 2 violins, viola, cello
Stimmensatz, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 1615890
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1646583
low voice
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1534643
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1688186
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1646582
Lyric Fairy Tale in Three Acts
After the historical vocal score (1905)
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331553