Bedřich Smetana, the renowned Czech composer, is celebrated worldwide as the "father of Czech music" for his significant contributions to the development of Czech national music.
Born on March 2, 1824, in Litomyšl, a town near the border of Bohemia and Moravia, Smetana displayed an early aptitude for music. His father began teaching him to play the piano at the age of five, and by the age of six, he was performing publicly at his hometown's academy of philosophy. Despite a challenging school life that saw him transferring schools and sharing residences with various family members, Smetana's piano skills continued to flourish. He composed romantic piano duets for female companions.
Smetana's formal music education began under the tutelage of Josef Proksch, who headed the Prague Music Institute. To support himself financially, Smetana taught music at the Thun noble household, offered private lessons, and performed in chamber concerts. He also embraced Czech nationalism and composed music that reflected this sentiment during the revolutionary year of 1848.
In 1848, Smetana founded his famous piano institute, which received support and guidance from notable figures like Franz Liszt and Ferdinand I of Austria. While his piano institute thrived in Prague, his compositions didn't gain significant attention, prompting him to move to Gothenburg in 1856. There, he became the conductor of the Gothenburg Society for Classical Choral Music. He returned to Prague only when his wife fell seriously ill.
Smetana composed "The Brandenburgers in Bohemia" in 1863, and it won the Harrach's Opera Competition in 1866. This piece was a tremendous success, containing "all the germs of Smetana’s operatic art." His second opera, "The Bartered Bride," brought him international acclaim, as it was performed over a hundred times during his lifetime, a remarkable achievement for a Czech opera. Between 1876 and 1882, Smetana composed three operas and the well-received String Quartet "From My Life."
However, he is most renowned for his cycle of six symphonic poems, collectively known as "Má vlast" or "My Fatherland." This work was often associated with the opera "Libuše" and considered a reflection of Czech history, a celebration of the country's beautiful landscapes, and Smetana's direct expression of Czech greatness.
Smetana, unfortunately, faced a tragic fate. He died on May 12, 1884, in a mental asylum. In the annals of Czech history, Bedřich Smetana stands as a towering figure, often recognized as the musical father of the nation and the first composer to dedicate his music to Czech nationalism.