As part of the 1932 Sokol Gathering, a competition had been announced the previous year for a piece to be performed at the gala concert. Martinů wrote home about this on March 29, 1932: “I received the [second] prize for the Festive Overture [Sokol Gathering Overture] for the Sokol gathering. It will be performed at the opening concert. I would have received first prize, Kunc wrote to me that it was the only serious piece submitted, but that one gentleman did not find it festive enough, so they could not give me the first prize, even though everyone else supported it. The first prize was not awarded at all.” The jury consisted of Jaroslav Křička, Jan Kunc, Otakar Ostrčil, Josef Suk, František Stupka, and Ing. Otakar Šourek. The composition was intended for the opening concert, scheduled for July 3, 1932 (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by František Stupka).
Jaroslav Mihule, Martinů: Osud skladatele, Prague: Karolinum, 2002, p. 199.