Martinu's Musical Development

Extract

“What is daring and bold in Martinu”, wrote Ansermet, “is the impossibility of characterising in one word, as can be done with other composers, either his melody, which is nothing exceptional, or his harmony, which is complex and daring in tonal treatment but keeps to a recognised and proven path, or his stylistic approach. But one thing forces itself on the attention and that is the expressive character of his work… achieved by means which are his alone. Few contemporary composers have embodied the modern slogan of ‘back to pure music’ in their work as happily as Martinu, in the sense that the subjects of his music are truly integrated in the musical substance.”