The 19th century stands for industrialization, change and revolution throughout Europe, but also for the struggle for national identity and self-determination. Against the background of forced Germanization, and the suppression of an independent Czech culture in the German, Austrian, Hungarian region, composers such as Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák embodied Czech Romanticism in the music world. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore all the wonderful music by Czech romantic composers today.
The struggle for a true Czech national identity became the decisive engine driving change in Czech society and culture. Music proved to be an excellent instrument for expressing this new national movement, and was perfected by the most important representatives of Czech romanticism:
One of the greatest Czech nationalist composers Bedřich Smetana was actually born into a German family, and baptized “Friedrich”. As a young man he spoke only a little Czech. It was this ’German Czech’ who became the founder of Czech national music, and also the conductor of the Czech National Theater in Prague. The programmatic cycle of the symphonic poems “My Fatherland” with the movement Vltava is known to every schoolchild in the Czech Republic today.
Just as Smetana contributed to the formation of a national identity within the Czech region, Antonín Dvořák was also instrumental in the popularization of Czech music around Europe and further afield. Dvořák is arguably the most famous Czech composer of all time, and one of the few who became famous in Europe, Russia and the USA during his lifetime. Dvořák’s music is characterized by a combination of precise compositional craftsmanship and unique Slavic melodies. Dvořák’s Symphonies and symphonic poems are part of the core repertoire of all orchestras around the world today.
More influential yet lesser-known Czech romantic composers include Zdeněk Fibich and Josef Suk. Take a look at Piano Works by Zdeněk Fibich and Chamber Music by Josef Suk, which are real hidden gems.
Simrock Original Edition
for: Voice (high), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 357567
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 668275
Correspondence dispatched 1896-1904
Book
Item no.: 342650
Aria from the opera “Rusalka” op. 114
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1672694
for: Männerchor (T(B)B) und Klavier
Choir score
Item no.: 1627734
aus dem Largo der Sinfonie Nr. 9 "Aus der neuen Welt"op. 95
for: Frauenchor (SSA) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 1538899
Lyric Fairy Tale in Three Acts
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615892
Documents Section 10–16
Book
Item no.: 767840
From The Largo Of The Symphony "From The New World," Op. 95op. 95
for: Chor (SATB) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 1618574
for: Trumpet
CD-ROM
Item no.: 1204342
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 612413
for: Männerchor (TTBB) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 1538932
Dramatic cantata to the words by Karel Jaromír Erben
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 609558
from Stabat Mater
for: Chor (SATB) und Klavier
Choir score
Item no.: 1620174
D
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1045111
low voice
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1534643
for: Bassoon
Music lesson book
Item no.: 774913
for: Cello
Music lesson book
Item no.: 198036
from the Opera"Rusalka"
for: Voice (soprano), concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1198461
for: Women's choir [children's choir] (SA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1105468
for violin and piano
3 Tempi Play Along
for: Violin
Solo part, 2 Playback-CDs
Item no.: 209798
FJH Beginning Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 968496
Repertoire Explorer
for: Voice (soprano), orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 1344439
Correspondence recieved 1893-1895
Book
Item no.: 767833
Lyric Fairy Tale in Three Acts
After the historical vocal score (1905)
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1331553
for: Viola [cello], guitar
Score, Parts
Item no.: 198063
"From the New World"
Bärenreiter Urtext
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 693649
for: Voice (low), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 300598
From The Largo Of The Symphony "From The New World," Op. 95op. 95
for: Frauenchor (SSA) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 1618335
Correspondence dispatched 1885-1889
Book
Item no.: 767844
Critical commentary
Book (critical commentary)
Item no.: 679799
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 316376
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 692205
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 983116
for: 2 voices (SA), piano
Music score
Item no.: 357083
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1690260
Lyric Fairy Tale in Three Acts
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Choir score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615891
bearbeitet nach dem berühmten Largo "Aus der neuen Welt" Sinfonie Des-Durop. 95
for: Voice (medium), piano
Item no.: 347998
Correspondence recieved 1877-1884
Book
Item no.: 767836
aus dem Largo der Sinfonie Nr. 9 "Aus der neuen Welt"op. 95
for: gemischter Chor (SATB) und Klavier (Orgel)
Choir score
Item no.: 655826
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1012123
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 892373
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 669897
for: Oboe [cor anglais]
CD-ROM
Item no.: 1204401
for: Choir (one voice), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 320340
high voice
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1534644
Choral
for: SSA
Choir score
Item no.: 1656828
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1198207