• Name: Bedrich Smetana
• Birthday: 03/02/1824
• Birth Place: Leitomischl, Czech Republic
• Died: 05/12/1884
• Place of Death: Prague, Czech Republic
• Period: Romantic
• Genre: Classical

Title	Release
(129) Má Vlast (My Fatherland), symphonic poems (6), JB 1:112
Album Leaf (Allegro ma non troppo) for piano in B flat major, JB 1:46 W	2005
Album Leaf for piano in B flat minor, JB 1:52 W	2005
Album Leaf for piano in B minor, JB 1:43 W	2005
Album Leaf for piano in E flat minor, JB 1:54 W	2005
Album Leaf for piano in G major, JB 1:41 W	2005
Album Leaf for piano in G minor, JB 1:42 W	2005
Album Leaves (3) for piano, JB 1:65 (Op. 3)	1996
(2) Album Leaves (6) for piano, JB 1:51 (Op. 2)	1996
(11) Am Seegestade - Eine Erinnerung (On the Seahore - A Memory), concert etude for piano in G sharp minor, JB 1:80 (Op. 17)	1986
An Robert Schumann (To Robert Schumann), for piano in E major, JB 1:65/1	1974
(2) Andante for piano in E flat major, JB 1:62	1996
Andante for piano in F minor, JB 1:117	2007
(7) Andantino for violin & piano in G minor (Z domoviny No. 2), JB 1:118/2 WA	1983
(5) Aus dem Studentenleben (From the Student Life), polka for piano in C major, JB 1:9	1996
(3) Bagatelles and Impromptus (8), for piano, JB 1:19	1996
Bayadere Galop (Galop bajadérek), for orchestra in C major, JB 1:11	1994
Beseda Polka	1995
(4) Bettina Polka for piano in C major, JB 1:74a (1st version)
(2) Bettina Polka for piano in C major, JB 1:74b (2nd version) WA	1964
Blaník, symphonic poem (Má Vlast No. 6), JB 1:112/6	2001
(8) Branibori v Cecháach (The Brandenburgers in Bohemia), opera, JB 1:87	2008
(9) Certova stena (The Devil's Wall), opera, JB 1:122	2008
(2) Ceská Písen (Czech Song), cantata for double chorus & orchestra, JB 1:111	1972
(3) Characteristic Pieces (6), for piano, JB 1:35 (Op. 1)	1972
(3) Choruses (3), for female chorus, JB 1:109	1971
(3) Concert Etude for piano in C major, JB 1:73 WA	2005
(22) Czech Dances (10) for piano, Book 2, JB 1:114	1972
(2) Czech Dances (14) for piano, Books 1 & 2, JB 1:107 & 114	1993
(15) Czech Dances (4) for piano, Book 1, JB 1:107	1966
(50) Dalibor, opera, JB 1:101	2008
(2) Der Fischer (Rybár), for harmonium, harp & strings, JB 1:97	1994
(2) Doktor Faust, prelude for small orchestra, JB 1:85	1994
Dupák for piano in D major, JB 1:114/6	1995
(12) Dve vdovy (The Two Widows), opera, JB 1:108	2008
(6) Erinnerung an Pilsen (Memories of Pilsen), polka for piano in E flat major, JB 1:17	1996
Etude for piano in A minor ("in song form"), JB 3:18/2	1974
Etude for piano in C major ("in prelude form"), JB 3:18/1	1974
Fanfares for Richard III, for brass & timpani, JB 1:92	2007
(3) Fantasia on the Bohemian Song "I Sowed Millet," for violin & piano in G minor, JB 1:12	1991
(3) Fantasie na ceské národní písne (Fantasy on Czech National Songs), for piano in B major, JB 1:83	1996
(5) Festival Overture in D major, for orchestra ("Revolutionary"), JB 1:39 (Op. 4)
(5) Freundliche Landschaft (Pleasant Landscape), for piano in D flat major, JB 1:67/3 (Op. 5/3)	1988
(2) Furiant for piano in A minor, JB 1:114/1
(7) Georginen-Polka (Dahlia Polka), for piano in D major, JB 1:2	1996
(17) Hakon Jarl, symphonic poem, JB 1:79 (Op. 16)	1957
(3) Hochzeitsszenen (Wedding Scenes) (3), for piano, JB 1:44	1996
(28) Hubicka (The Kiss), opera, JB 1:104	2008
(2) Hulán (The Lancer), dance for piano in A major, JB 1:114/7	1997
L'amour (Láska; Love), for piano in A major (Bagatelles & Impromptus No. 7), JB 1:19/7

Bedrich Smetana was one of the great composers of his country's history and one of the leaders of the movement toward musical nationalism. His father was a violin teacher who gave Bedrich his first lessons and referred him to keyboard, harmony, and composition lessons when the boy requested them. His father tried to get Bedrich to apply himself in academics, but Bedrich was too focused on music to be a good student.

Bedrich Kittl, director of the Prague Conservatory, in 1844 found Smetana a job as a music teacher to the family of Count Leopold Thun while continuing music studies. He remained with the count for three and a half years, but he quit to undertake a concert tour, which turned out to be a financial failure.

Franz Liszt aided Smetana in finding a publisher for some early piano music and in 1848, Smetana founded a successful piano school.

Although he established a strong local reputation as a pianist, his piano compositions (mostly lighter works) did not earn him any special distinction as a composer.

In 1860, the Austro-Hungarian Empire granted internal political autonomy to Bohemia. A movement began to search for a genuine Czech voice in arts, including the establishment of a national theater. In 1862-1863, Smetana composed The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, his first opera , which was a success at its premiere on January 5, 1866. His next opera was Prodaná nevesta (The Bartered Bride), his most famous and enduring opera today, but a failure when it premiered on May 30, 1866.

In 1866, Smetana became conductor of the Provisional Theater, re-forming its administration and attempting to raise standards. His next opera , Dalibor (1871), was criticized for its Wagnerian elements. He had also written Libuse, but could find no producer. But in 1874, he had a large success with a light, popular opera , The Two Widows.

However, a severe whistling in the ears (graphically depicted in his autobiographical string quartet From My Life) led to deafness by the end of that year, symptoms of tertiary syphilis. He continued to compose and wrote his orchestral masterpiece Má Vlast (My Country) from 1874 to 1879. Three more operas were premiered successfully, including Libuse, but the last was The Devil's Wall (1882). By now, Smetana was seriously ill. The brain damage from syphilis led to madness, and he was confined to an asylum where he died. National mourning was proclaimed and he was given a burial at the Vyshehrad, one of the national sites depicted in Má Vlast. ~ Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide