Steinhardt Lecture: Marek Pechač: Bohuslav Martinů and the Complete Edition of His Works

Abstract:

This talk will outline the life and work of Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959) and introduce the institutions dedicated to preserving his legacy. Attention will also be paid to the history of complete editions in Central Europe, with a particular focus on the Bohuslav Martinů Institute’s main project in recent years: The Bohuslav Martinů Complete Edition.

Bio:

Marek Pechač is a doctoral student at Palacký University in Olomouc; he is currently writing his dissertation titled Jan Löwenbach: A Life Devoted to Czech Music. Together with Martin Nedbal (University of Kansas), he edited and newly translated Löwenbach’s monograph Bedřich Smetana: A Study of His Life and Work (University of Rochester Press, 2026). Since 2010, he works at the Bohuslav Martinů Institute, where, as an editor, proofreader, and source researcher, he contributes to the project The Bohuslav Martinů Complete Edition.

This talk is co-sponsored by the KU School of music, the Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies, and the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.