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: 2 violins, 2 violas, cello
Study score
Item no.: 391549
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 564196
for: Double bass
CD-ROM
Item no.: 1204354
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 900664
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 881930
for: Chor (SAB) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 1618911
Musica Viva Historica 43
– Copy on request –
for: 2 oboes, cor anglais
Score, Parts
Item no.: 123047
for: 5 strings
Set of parts
Item no.: 114525
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 685602
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 649716
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234217
for: Bassoon, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234062
for: Tenor saxophone (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234059
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234055
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234054
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234053
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1234048
for: Baritone saxophone, guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1244635
for: Trumpet, guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1244633
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1244624
for: Viola, guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 1244617
for: Double bass, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1244614
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242254
for: Tuba, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1242253
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1223030
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1223023
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1218969
for: Alto trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1218958
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1218956
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1218951
for: 5 clarinets (quintet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607464
for: 5 trombones
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607461
for: 4 trumpets [4 cornets]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607453
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607246
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1607225
for: Solo, Duet, Trio or Quartet for Brass
Sheet music
Item no.: 1599549
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1746611
for: 2 pianos
Item no.: 354363
for: Organ
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 271758
suitable for the original version and for the version with chamber orchestra
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 665328
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 236530
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 423807
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 218371
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score
Item no.: 238102
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 592709
for: Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 596611
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1279788
for: Soprano saxophone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298928