Music Culture in Czechoslovakia and Its Ruins 1934–1944

When several composers’ anniversaries were celebrated across Czechoslovakia in 1934, not many people foresaw that there would be a major turning point in a few years when it comes to the development of the young republic, which would be robbed at first, followed by a German troops occupation and eventually forced to submit to the Nazi totalitarian regime. The far-reaching political and social changes caused by the consequences of the Munich Agreement, the secession of the Slovak State and the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia on the ruins of the former Czechoslovak Republic had a profound effect on cultural and music life. Therefore, the colloquium aims to capture this multifaceted and substantial transformation of Czechoslovak musical culture.

Particularly, contributions exploring the influence of politics and social transformations on Czechoslovak music culture within the given period are welcome. Furthermore, the contributions may deal with the Czechoslovak music institutions and associations functioning against the background of social and political events, the life and work of Czech and Slovak music personalities in a broader contemporary context, the interpenetration and confrontation of Czech and German music culture in Czechoslovakia, the significant international impact of Czechoslovak music culture (e.g. the Prague ISCM festival in 1935 or the founding of the International Society for Music Education in 1936), the specific position of composers and musicians of Jewish origin in the Protectorate, musical life in the Terezín ghetto, the activities of Czechoslovak musicians in concentration camps, the manifestations of Czech national identity during the occupation done through large music festivals and celebrations of the anniversaries of Czech composers, and last but not least, the contemporary development of Czechoslovak film and popular music.