Rodina Martinů: Poličské kořeny skladatele / Martinů Family: The Composer's Roots in Polička
Martinů Family: The Composer's Roots in Polička

Author(s): Monika Holá
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Cultural history, Music, Archiving, Local History / Microhistory, Recent History (1900 till today), History of Art
Published by: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: Bohuslav Martinů; Polička; correspondence; family; composers; music history
Summary/Abstract: The publication highlights the relationships of Bohuslav Martinů with his family, which provided him with essential security and support throughout his life. His close family circle consisted of his parents and two siblings. The composer's father, Ferdinand Martinů, was a trained shoemaker and, at the time of the composer's birth, worked as a church tower keeper at St. James Church, which allowed him access to an apartment built within the tower's structure. Bohuslav Martinů was born there and lived with his family for the next twelve years. His mother was a very important figure in his life; even as an adult, Bohuslav felt the need to consult her on certain decisions. His brother, František, was an academic painter specializing in sacral decoration of church interiors. His sister, Marie, made a living as a dressmaker with her own fashion salon. Although B. Martinů spent more than half of his life abroad, he returned to his family in Polička every year for the summer months and spent them there regularly until 1938. The outbreak of World War II and the change of regime in his homeland in 1948 made returning home permanently impossible. However, he maintained regular correspondence with his family. This publication, based on preserved archival documents, attempts to shed light on the fates of his closest relatives, who had so far remained in the shadow of the famous composer.

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