Bedřich Smetana (1824 Leitomischl – 1884 Prague) is generally regarded as the founder of Czech national music. His most successful compositions were the opera “The Bartered Bride” and the cycle “My Fatherland”, which consists of six symphonic tone poems. His opera “Libussa,” premiered in 1881, was also spontaneously hailed as a masterpiece of Czech musical drama.
This stage work opens with an effective fanfare that seamlessly segues into the operatic action via a lengthy “decrescendo.” The fanfare for exclusively brass instruments and a pair of timpani was first heard at the ceremonial opening of the Prague National Theater and has remained closely associated with important events in the life of the Czech people ever since. Because of its pictorial tonal language, it was even designated as the official fanfare of the Czech president and to this day announces his representative appearances. In only twenty-four measures and with almost only one canonic major chord, Bedrich Smetana succeeds with this fanfare in characterizing the spirit of the Czech people.

Instrumentation: 4 trpt/4 trb/4 hn/tuba/timpani