BOHEMIA. The folk music of Bohemia is es pecially rich in popular dance tunes, some of which, like the polka, have also found great favor in other countries. The influence of church music is pronounced in many of the folk songs, especially in those dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, where we find entire chorales introduced as middle sections. The later songs are distinguished by a broad melodic outline, showing to some extent Italian influences, and by a spirit of humor. As in the case of Russia and Poland, a distinctive national trait appeared in the music of Bohemia as soon as national corm; posers introduced the folk music into their seri ous works. The first of these was Tomaczek (1774-1850), who wrote several Bohemian songs and also occasionally introduced national themes into his instrumental works. Just fifty years after the appearance of the first Polish opera, a Bohemian opera by Franz ,kroup (1801-62) was performed at Prague. This was a very simple work in the style of the German singspiel. Two other and more serious operas followed, Udalrieh and Bozena (1828) and Libussa's Wedding (1835). But these attempts for many years re mained the only evidences of a national school of opera. The erection of a new Bohemian National Theatre in 1862 fired the ambition of national composers. Skuhersky (1830-92) had written his first two operas, Wladimir and Lora, to German texts. He had both these works translated into Bohemian, and then they were produced at the new theatre. These were followed by an wiginal Bohemian opera, The General. Johann Skroup (1811-92), a younger brother of Franz, con tributed in 1867 The Swedes in Prague. In the same year Blodek (1834-74) added In the Well to the national repertoire. Schebor (1843—) be
tween 1865 and 1878 wrote five Bohemian operas: Bendl (1838-97) wrote seven: and Rozkosny (1833—) eight. But all these men attained only local fame. The first Bohemian musician whose works attracted general attention in Europe was Smetana (1824-84). He was not satisfied to ob tain a national coloring in his music by the mere introduction of folk songs and dances in their primitive dress. As conductor of the National Theatre in Prague he wrote eight national operas, which not only constitute the stock of the Bo hemian national repertoire, but have also met with great favor outside of Bohemia. Perhaps the best known of these is The Bartered Bride (1866). Among more recent Bohemian compos ers may be mentioned Hfimaly (1842—), whose opera The Enchanted Prince (1870) scored a last ing success, and Fibich (1859—), who between 1870 and 1898 wrote five operas and a trilogy, ( 1891). This composer is also prolifie in the field of instrumental music. Beyond doubt the greatest of Bohemian composers is Antonin Dvotilk (1841—) (q.v.). who has done much for the cause of Bohemian music through his mas terly arrangement. of national dances for orches tra as well as pianoforte. Consult : Cui. Histori cal Sketch of Music in Russia, in "The Century Library of Music" (New York. 1901) ; Zielinski, The Poles in Music (ib.) ; Soubies, Precis de Ibis toire dc la ((Insigne nesse ( Paris, 1893) Pougin, "Essai historique sin- la mnsique en Russie," in Rirista Musicale Italiatia, vols. iii. and iv. (Turin, 1896-97).