Evening at the Shore (Večer na pobřeží, H 128) written in Prague in [May] 1921, reveals the influence of Debussy, its impressionism also implied by the descriptive Czech titles of its movements: “Plachetní loďky vracející večer do přístavu” (A small sailing boat returns in the evening to the port), “Píseň na pobřeží” (Song at the Shore), “Břehy v příboji” (The Shore in the Storm). The second even evokes the sound of Puccini – not just the harmonies, but in particular the voicing of the melody just before the end. The third movement brings to mind comparisons not only Debussy, but also [Charles Tomlinson] Griffes – both his Fountain of Acqua Paola (from the Roman Sketches) and his Piano Sonata.
The recording of the composition was released for the first time by Naxos in 2009 (Martinů: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 6 – Esquisses, Jeux, Lyric Pieces; Giorgio Koukl).
Mark Gresham and Cary Lewis, Martinů: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 6 – Esquisses, Jeux, Lyric Pieces, Naxos, 2009.