On the other end of the chronological and emotional spectra, Merry Christmas 1941 (Veselé Vánoce 1941, H 286bis) is unmistakable Martinů, with alternating bitonal chords between the hands, and chord progressions repeated in a way that hides the metre. Written for and dedicated to Hope Castagnola [his pupil, pianist] while the composer was living in Jamaica, New York, it is a cheerful, hopeful piece suited to holiday greetings, and reflective of Martinů's new-found American success that same December when his Concerto Grosso, H263, was given its premiere by Sergei Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Mark Gresham and Cary Lewis, Martinů: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 7 – A Fairy-Tale of Goldilocks, From Andersen's Fairy-Tales; Giorgio Koukl).