Bohuslav Martinů

Bohuslav Martinu was the leading Czech composer of mid-20th century * Born and grew up in room at top of church tower in village of Policka, a perspective that coloured his later life * Studied violin at Prague Conservatoire but dismissed for 'incorrigible negligence' * Toured with Czech Philharmonic and discovered music of Debussy * Left Prague to study with Roussel in Paris * Joined milieu of 1920s Parisian culture and was influenced by Stravinsky, jazz and Les Six * In 1930s adopted neoclassical idiom and explored concerto grosso forms * Key works from period included surreal opera Julietta and Double Concerto, written on eve of Munich Agreement which cut him off from homeland * Travelled to USA in 1940 and wrote for leading American orchestras in the following decade * Anticipated return to Prague but fall of Czechoslovakia to communists in 1948 made him a permanent exile * Most ambitious music of 1950s, such as Fantaisies symphoniques (Symphony No.6), employed dreamlike neo-impressionist colour and anticipated aleatoric soundworld * Last works, drawing greatly on Moravian folk traditions, written at home of Paul Sacher in Switzerland

Works by Bohuslav Martinu include:
Double Concerto (1938) for two string orchestras, piano and timpani
Symphonies 1-6 (1942-46 / 1953) for orchestra
Sinfonietta la Jolla (1950) for chamber orchestra
The Marriage (1952) Comic opera in two acts