Polní mše (Field Mass) H 279 / Svatební košile (The Spectre's Bride) H 214 I A

The present volume of the Bohuslav Martinu Complete Edition (BMCE) contains two vocal-instrumental works. The “Field Mass” (1939) with a text by Jir Mucha incorporating bible and liturgy quotes was created in reaction to theoutbreak of the Second World War and intended for outdoor performances. The cantata “The Spectre’s Bride” with a text by Karel Jarom r Erben was composed in 1932 as part of the ballet “Špal cek” (meaning “chapbook”): the composerlater took out the cantata, making it into a stand-alone concert piece.

The autograph scores served as primary sources for both works. The edition of the “Field Mass” (including its performance materials) also containstheoriginal version of the ending with a quote from the Czech medieval hymn “Jezu Kriste, štedry kneže” (“Jesu Christ, bountiful priest”) and a number of contemporary translations.