Page:Bohemia; a brief evaluation of Bohemia's contribution to civilization (1917).pdf/37

 and loyalty, on their banners, this effectual opera would be a great success in America, if the opera conductors in New York and Chicago ceased to ignore the Bohemian composers) and “Na starém bělidle” (At the Old Bleachery, with the story taken from the most popular Bohemian novel, “Babička”, The Grandmother, by Božena Němcová) Jos. Boh. Foerster, author of delicate songs, symphonical works and operas “Debora”, “Eva” and “Jessica”, Otokar Ostrčil, composer of operas “Vlasty skon” (The Death of Vlasta, the leader of above named amazons of the Bohemian folk legend), “Kunálovy oči” (Kunal’s Eyes, an Indian story) and “Poupě" (The Bud); Karel Weis and others.

The theoretical literature is splendidly represented by Dr. Otokar Hostinský, late professor at the Bohemian University of Prague, a fervent champion of Smetana, Karel Stecker, professor at the Conservatory of Music in Prague, Dr. Zdeněk Nejedlý, professor at the Bohemian University, etc.

The reproductive art reached always the highest level. Many Bohemian virtuosos and singers became world-famed. We will cite only from violin virtuosos Josef Slavík, rival of Paganini (1806-1833), Ferd. Laub and from living, František Ondříček, Jan Kubelík and Jaroslav Kocián, these both being pupils of Prof. Ševčík, the Bohemian Quartet (Hoffmann, Suk, Nedbal and Wihan), the dramatic soprano Emma Destinnová, for eight years member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the first Mařenka in Smetana’s “Prodaná nevěsta” in the New York performance, today living at her castle Stráž in Bohemia, because the Austrian government refused to give her a passport for going anew to America, the tenor Karel Burián, also for some seasons a star of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, etc.

All that has been said in this brief essay concerns the art music. But the Bohemian folk songs and dances have also an unusual fascination. The main characteristics of these songs are the preponderance of the major mode (the farther to the east, e. i. in Moravia and Slovakland, the more this preponderance is waning), with a diatonic melody and a favorite close upon the third, rich rhythmics and a correct declamation of the text. The folk dances