| Content | Robert Vannoy would like to thank Miloš Šafránek for sending him the recordings of Bohuslav Martinů's SONATES for Cello and Piano Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Due to circumstances, he was unable to confirm receipt earlier. RV judges that BM was more skilful in composing for the cello than for 'his own' instrument, the violin. The recordings of the song cycles ŠPALÍČEK, PÍSNIČKY NA JEDNU PÁNKU etc. are very interesting, although without the written text it is difficult for RV to navigate the Czech text. He has a dictionary to help him, though. BM's SMITH QUARTET No. 6 is a first class composition and the pairing with Roussel's quartet is interesting. The CONCERTINO FOR VIOLONCELLO, BREATHS, CLAVIER AND DICKS is charming and more interesting than Ibert's piece on the same disc. The RV also reviews the recordings on the next disc (Vítězslav Novák, J. B. Foerster). The RV criticizes Supraphon's U.S. release policy, especially the underestimation of the graphic design of the recordings' covers. In the US, presentation is essential. However, there is a demand for "new" music in the USA, and if works by Czechoslovak masters (Josef Suk, Vítězslav Novák, J. B. Foerster) were released, they would find a market in the USA. According to RV, no musical culture in the world is more "universal" than the Czechoslovak one. |