Symphony No.4 H 305 (Full Score, hardback)

Martinu Symphony No.4 H 305 (Full Score, hardback)

The Bohuslav Martinu Complete Edition II/1/4

The Bohuslav Martinu Complete Edition (BMCE) constitutes the first scholarly critical edition of the complete works of this classic of twentieth-century Czech music in all the versions and arrangements that he created or authorised, some newly discovered and previously unpublished compositions inclusive.  The BMCE is edited by the Bohuslav Martinu Institute in Prague.

Symphony No. 4, H 305, was written in the spring of 1945 during the last months of World War II and was premiered on 30 November 1945 by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy.  This was followed by additional performances in December in various locations throughout the United States.  Martinů attended the premiere, as shown from his correspondence with his family before and after the event.  According to the author’s own words from his letter home, the premiere was a great success.  A study of the available American reviews reveals a generally positive consensus expressing admiration for the praiseworthy musicality enhanced by compositional skill, and the ability to exploit the classical form while using new content.

Symphony No.4 (1945) is the most joyous of the author's six compositions of this genre.  When working on the third movement, Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959) was caught up by news of Germany's capitulation.  This first critical edition offers the composer's last authorised version in the main musical text, the Appendices also include parts of the work as they appeared before their revision for the first printed edition, in which the composer made slight alterations to the instrumentation and removed three bars from the third movement.  They thus depict the performance history of the work as it was rendered until the release of the printed edition of the score in 1948, at the same time giving current performers access to the original version.  The comprehensive Facsimiles section includes, among others, all extant parts of the draft of the work.

- First scholarly-critical edition

- Detailed preface and critical commentary (both in English and Czech) by the editor

- Facsimiles of key sources