Born in Polička, Bohemia, 8 Dec 1890
Liestal, Switzerland, 28 Aug 1959
- Although he strongly identified with his Czech heritage, Martinů spent much of his life living outside of his homeland, first in Paris and then in the United States.
- While living in Prague in his late teens, Martinů studied with Josef Suk and made a living as a violin teacher.
- In 1923, Martinů earned a scholarship that enabled him to move to Paris and study with Albert Roussel. He remained in the French capital for nearly two decades.
- In 1940, Martinů fled France and immigrated to the United States, where he (mostly) remained until the mid 1950s.
- Martinů began learning to play the violin at age seven and quickly showed a strong aptitude for music.
- As a composer, Martinů wrote music in nearly every instrumental and vocal genre. He was incredibly prolific, and his range of influences included Debussy, Stravinsky, Jazz, music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and melodies from his Czech homeland. While this mix may seem eclectic, Grove argues that his wide range of influences and refusal to adhere to any one “school” gave him a unique and distinctive musical voice.1
Learn More
Biography via the OREL Foundation
Sources
- Jan Smaczny and Michael Crump, “Martinů, Bohuslav,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed August 31, 2026, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000017940.