The second series of Jeux II, H 206 (Games II), bears the designation Jeux, Six morceaux faciles pour piano (six easy pieces for piano) in the autograph. Although its title indicates that Martinů intended to offer it to one of his Paris-based publishers, neither was this cycle published during his lifetime. It was only published by Panton in 1979. When it comes to its nature, Games II is similar to the previous cycle, yet within it Martinů works much less with rhythm variation and polytonality. None of the six parts can deny the influence of jazz. As the cycle’s name would suggest, prevailing are buoyant tempos and playfulness. Nevertheless, individual parts are in contrast to each other as regards tempos and dynamics. The autograph is now preserved in the Czech Museum of Music in Prague.
Aleš Březina, Martinů: Jeux, Prague: Supraphon, 2008.