| Content | Reminiscences of Bohuslav Martinů, apparently written as a speech on the occasion of BM's 69th birthday: BM visited the Novák family in Smiřice, where he stayed with Stanislav Novák during the holidays and composed, among others, for Pavla Vachkova (née Osuska) and the sister of the Novák brothers, Maria, who was studying singing. For the "furious violin amateur [Josef?] Vognar" BM composed Romances and for his father KN he wrote inserts for masses. BM performed with KN at a pupil concert, for which he arranged a piece by an unknown composer, 'Tyrolean Bells', and accompanied him himself on the piano. Until BM left for Paris, they met either in Smiřice or at the home of friends - Dr. Jaromír Pečírka or in Kozlov u Třebové. During these meetings, KN learned a lot about Martin's "very strong opinions". KN had been to Italy and France with his brother to see BM, and the last time they saw each other was in 1938, when BM came to the Czechoslovakia without Charlotte [Martinů]. BM was greatly affected by the news of SN's death. After that he corresponded extensively with KN. |