The Sleeper (Spící, 1910), H 19, is notable in being a setting of Edgar Allan Poe. It's typical in its Gothic aura of gloominess and dread, to which the young composer responds in notably unequivocal terms – not least during its sombre piano prelude. The recording of the composition was released for the first time by Naxos in 2014 (Martinů: Songs, Vol. 2 – The Months; Jana Wallingerová, Giorgio Koukl).
Richard Whitehouse, Songs, Vol. 2 – The Months, Naxos 2014