BOHUSLAV MARTINU (1890-1959): The Opening of the Wells H 354 for Female Chorus, 2 Sopranos, Contralto, Baritone, Recitation, 2 Violins, Viola and Piano, The Legend of the Smoke from Potato Fires H 360 for Mixed Chorus, Soprano, Contralto, Baritone, Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Accordion and Piano, Mikes of the Mountains H 375 for Mixed Chorus, Soprano, Tenor, 2 Violins, Viola and Piano.

Description: These chamber cantatas, each around 20 minutes, are from 1955-59, when the composer nostalgically revisited the folk melodies and poetry of his native Vysocina region. Part of a four-work cycle representing a year in the countryside, they set the simple, folk-inspired texts of poet Miloslav Bures. Czech-English texts. Milada Cejková (soprano), Agáta Cakrtová, Marie Mrázová (contraltos), Vladimír Dolezal (tenor), Ivan Kusnjer (baritone), Petr Hanicinec (reciter), Petr Messiereur, Jan Kvapil (violins), Jan Talich (viola), Stanislav Bogunia (piano), Peter Duda (horn), Vlastimil Mares (clarinet), Jirí Stivín (flute), Milan Bláha (accordion), Kühn Mixed Chorus; Pavel Kühn. Original 1991 Supraphon release.