Czech Literary Inspirations in the Musical Work of Ján Levoslav Bella Cover Image

České literárne inšpirácie v hudobnej tvorbe Jána Levoslava Bellu
Czech Literary Inspirations in the Musical Work of Ján Levoslav Bella

Author(s): Jana Lengová
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Music, Local History / Microhistory
Published by: Ústav hudobnej vedy Slovenskej akadémie vied
Keywords: Ján Levoslav Bella; Czech-Slovak relations; Czech literature; song; choir; opera

Summary/Abstract: The composer Ján Levoslav Bella (1843 – 1936) maintained close contacts with personalities of Czech musical culture, especially in the years 1868 – 1881 and 1921 – 1936. Thanks to this he took a more intensive interest in Czech literature, which ultimately led to his taking a number of Czech literary models to set to music. The following works are extant: choirs to words by František Sušil (St. Cyril’s Deathbed Prayer) and Adolf Heyduk (Little White Shirt, I’m a Great Lady!), songs for voice and piano Good Night and To the Singers to words by Eliška Krásnohorská, the opera fragment Jaroslav and Laura according to the verse drama by Václav Pok Poděbradský, and a song for higher bass and orchestra Credo to words by Jaroslav Martinec. The study is centred on analysis of individual works, taking into account the circumstances of their emergence and reception.

  • Issue Year: 3/2012
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 45-84
  • Page Count: 40
  • Language: Slovak