Nonet (Martinu)
General Info
Year: 1959
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Kalmus
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $26.50
Movements
1. Poco allegro – 5:10
2. Andante - 5:25
3. Allegretto – 5:30
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
Horn in F
Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The Nonet in F major dates from 1959, the year of Martinů 's death. It was finished in January in the house put at his disposal by Paul Sacher at Schönenberg-Pratteln near Basel. In less than twenty minutes Martinů seems to idealize both his Czech heritage and the neo-impressionism that colours his last compositions.
The opening Poco Allegro simulates the atmosphere of a village celebration with its clarinet fanfare, reminiscent of a post-Smetana fanfare or a gathering of sokols" (Janáček). The Andante evokes a lost paradise, but without bitterness or insistence. This singing is like the distant echo of the Symphonies Fantastiques (Symphony No. 6) of 1953. The Allegretto finale has the violin-minstrel convincing its partners to accompany it in a suite of Czech and Slovak dances with varied and subtle rhythms. This rondo gradually assumes the fullness of a country band until the tender pianissimo of the last bar.
The work was first played on 27 July at the Salzburg Festival by its dedicatees, the Czech Nonet.
- Program Note by Pierre-E. Barbier for liner notes of Praga CD MARTINŮ, B.: Chamber Music (Pražák Quartet, Czech Nonet)
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Maryland (College Park) Wind Orchestra (Michael Votta, Jr., conductor) – 3 March 2012 (CBDNA 2012 Eastern Division Conference, College Park, Md.)
Works for Winds by this Composer
- Concertino (1924)
- Field Mass (1939)
- Memorial for Lidice (tr. Rumbelow) (1943/1995)
- Nonet (1959)
Resources
- Martinů, B. (1959). Nonet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Violin, Viola, Violoncello and Contrabass [score]. Edwin F. Kalmus: Boca Raton, Fla.
- "Martinů: "Nonet" - University of Maryland Wind Orchestra". YouTube, uploaded by University of Maryland School of Music, 20 March 2012. Accessed 21 August 2022
- "Nonet No.2, H.374 (Martinů, Bohuslav)." IMSLP. Web, Accessed 21 August 2022