Bedrich Smetana /// The Complete Czech Dances

Smetana's last major piano works were the two Czech Dances cycles of 1877 and 1879. The first of these had the purpose, as Smetana explained to his publisher, of "idealising the polka, as Chopin in his day did with the mazurka." The second cycle is a medley of dances, each given a specific title so that people would know "...which dances with real names we Czechs have."

Czech Dances I

00:00 1. Polka Non molto allegro f♯ minor

03:57 2. Polka Moderato a minor

06:41 3. Polka Allegro F major

10:31 4. Polka Lento B♭ major

Czech Dances II

13:30 1. Furiant Presto a minor

18:54 2. The little Han (Slepička) Moderato B♭ major

21:58 3. Oats (Oves) Andantino A♭ major

27:32 4. The Bear (Medvěd) Allegro C major

30:55 5. The Little Onion (Cibulička) Moderato g minor

35:33 6. Dupák VIvacissimo D major

39:34 7. The Lancer (Hulán) Andantino A major

44:17 8. Obkrocák Allegro E♭ major

47:14 9. Sousedská Moderato B major

51:47 10. Skočná Vivace F major