Focus on two centuries of melodies from Bohemia

Jean had performed her usual meticulous research, with a leaflet detailing the history of what used to be known as Bohemia, Moravia and Czechoslovakia, as well as biographies of the 10 composers whose works she played.

From the mid-18th century, the genius and sheer musicality of composers such as Joseph Myslivicek who wrote more than 30 operas and 45 sympohonies, and Johann Stamitz, who adopted the Italian Overture style to the symphony with his famous Mannheim court orchestra became widely known throughout Europe. Jean played Myslivicek's Symphony In C major, played by the London Mozart Players conducted by Matthias Bamert. Helped by Chandos Records, Bamert has made much of this neglected music available on disc.

Another unknown composer was Vaclav Pichl, and again the London Mozart Players performed his delightful Symphony Z22 in G Maj.

Johann Nepomuk Hummel's catchy trumpet concerto is fairly well known, but Jean chose an excerpt from one of Hummerl's glorious masses, in B flat maj sung by the Collegium Musicum 90 conducted by Richard Hickox '“ a great promoter of Hummel's choral masterpieces.

Paul Wranitzky's name will be forever remembered by music lovers as the orchestra leader who conducted the first performance of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, but his own Symphony op.31 was a well-crafted, dramatic work.

In the second half of her fascinating overview, Jean played examples of the move to nationalistic music, full of folk melodies, written by 19th century musicians.

Leos Janacek used the ancient Slavonic rite for his powerful Glagolithic Mass (Glagolithic was the script used, not Latin). Jean played excerpts from the famous recording by the Danish National Radio Chorus and Symphony conducted by Charles Mackerras.

Bedrich Smetana is called the father of Czech music, as he wrote about the beauties and history of his homeland in the tone poems collectively called '˜Ma Vlast'. Jean played '˜From Bohemia's Woods and Fields' with the National Youth Orchestra of Britain under Sir Roger Norrington.

Having chosen vocal, then lush orchestration for the first two example of music in the second half, Jean next chose the first movement of one of the most beautiful piano quintets ever written '“ Dvorak: Piano Quintet in A, op.81.

Finally, Jean brought the music up to the 20th century by playing Bohuslav Martinu's richly-scored Frescoes of Pierro della Francesca.

Maureen Wright thanked Jean for the wealth of information as well as the melodic entertainment.

The club's next meeting will be held on November, 1 when John Dixey will discuss Elgar and Nimrod. For further information, contact the secretary on 01243 827358.