The Song Without Words (Píseň beze slov), H 46, is the first ever printed composition by Bohuslav Martinů. It was published in the Musical Supplement of the magazine Zlatá Praha in February 1912 and was dedicated to Miss Božena Pacoldová. The following piano piece Nocturno, H 47 was also dedicated to her. The small piece is essentially a mournful melody, but already contains some of the first hints of the "bells" that would become an important element of Martinů's later style.
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).
Jana Burdová, 2024