Bohuslav Martinů - Motýli a rajky, H. 127

Описание: 0:00 I. Motýli v květinách (Butterflies in Flowers)
3:57 II. Motýli a rajky (Butterflies and Birds of Paradise)
7:11 III. Rajky nad mořem (Birds of Paradise Above the Sea)


Although 1920 was a fruitful year for Bohuslav Martinů, especially in the field of piano music, the cycle Motýli a rajky(Butterflies and birds of paradise), H127 stands out among the other works. Martinů was enchanted by Impressionism at the time and mirrored his feelings about the exhibition of colourful exotics in these pieces, characterised by their unusual rhythmic, melodic and harmonic fullness. The piece is structured by a series of tempo markings and flows from one mood to another. The basic key is E major, but due to the frequent changes of prefixation and the impressionistic harmony with its typical constant tonality, we feel the absence of a tonal centre. The most serious and longest movement of the cycle is the last piece, ending in a "pianissimo" dynamic with a gradual lengthening of note values.

One day in the winter of 1920 Martinů was introduced to Czech painter Max Švabinský's collection of butterflies. He was immediately enchanted by the play of shiny feathers of different colours. He found the greatest beauty in the Paradisea Rodolphia, which had a chest covered with feathers of a special texture. It was also the rarest piece in the collection. A few days later Martinů brought Ela, Švabinský's wife, as a gift the piano cycle Butterflies and Rays, H 127.

Pavel Kašpar, piano