The work Les Rondes, H 200 comprises six parts, which Martinů repeatedly called dances. In his correspondence from the time the composer alternately described them as Moravian or Czech dances because they were inspired by folk tunes and rhythms (e.g. the use of a mode in dance No. 5 suggests an inspiration from the melodic sequences common in Moravian songs). This is the first work of the composer’s mature creative period that makes such extensive and ingenious use of the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic elements of folk music. More than half a year after completing the piece, the composer dedicated it to Jan Kunc, the director of the Brno conservatory, in gratitude for his multifarious support. First, Kunc pushed for the appreciation of his works as a member of evaluation committees; second, he offered Martinů a professorship at the Brno conservatory in 1931. For some time Martinů even considered accepting the position, mainly for financial reasons. But in the spring of the following year he changed his mind and wrote to Kunc that it would be “something of a desertion”. The premiere of Les Rondes took place on 18 March 1932 at a concert at École Normale de la Musique in Paris under the direction of Alfred Cortot, and the composer attended the event in person: "I had a big success yesterday with my new dances for small orchestra, […]. Besides that, the conductor made a kind of speech before the performance, in which he praised me immensely […]"
He also informed the publishing house Schott of the concert’s success, a repeat performance was planned for Théâtre Pigalle in May. Jan Kunc showed an interest in the Czech premiere of Les Rondes. He apparently asked Martinů to send him the score and parts for the performance. Martinů replied: "I will gladly lend you your Moravian dances, I do not think they are too difficult or that the cons. students would not manage them. They are still in manuscript form, it is hard to find a publisher for such a mixed genre at the moment [...]." In January 1933 Martinů sent the score and parts of Les Rondes to Brno and asked Kunc to send them back after the premiere, as he was still looking for a publisher for the work. Martinů wrote to Polička in advance of the planned premiere, which took place at the Brno Conservatory on 19 June 1933: “they will be playing those Rondes in Brno, it might also be on Radio." Prague performance of Les Rondes did not take place until 17 March 1936, the composition was broadcast by Czechoslovak Radio. A mere eight days later it was presented by members of the FOK (Prague Symphony Orchestra) conducted by Václav Smetáček at a concert in Mánes (25 March). The score and parts were brought from Paris by Miloš Šafránek. The concert received several reviews, the authors of which concur that the composition has an intriguing and joyous sound, but that it does not offer anything really new compared to Martinů’s previous works (it is surprising that they made no note of the aforementioned extensive use of Moravian folk elements, a first in the composer’s mature oeuvre).
In the beginning of 1931 Martinů offered Les Rondes to the publishing house Schott, which sent the piece back in May of the same year. Martinů spent much time searching for another publisher for the composition, as he also mentioned in his correspondence with Jan Kunc (see above). The work was finally published in 1950 by the Prague publisher Orbis. The preparations for its publication began in 1947 as documented by Bohuslav Martinů’s correspondence with Karel Šebánek. Among other things, it shows that Martinů asked Šebánek to come up with a Czech title for the composition: With regard to the pocket editions, Serenades and Ronde, it would perhaps be good, although I don’t know what the situation is where you are […] In that case try to think of a title for Ronde, it isn’t the rondeau form, but les Rondes, which means more a kind of circular dance, in a circle, like Beseda or round and round." Despite the author’s explicit request, for inexplicable reasons the composition was published as Ronda. Nonetheless, Martinů lauded the edition and mainly expressed his joy that the composition was finally available in print. This material was used for the 1958 recording of the work at the Brno radio station.
Bohuslav Martinů Complete Edition IV/4, © 2015 Editio Bärenreiter Praha