Martinů’s mature orchestral works are now a mainstay of the repertoire, but the generous quantity of orchestral music he wrote between his late teens and early thirties is as good as unknown.

This major new series of six CDs presents first recordings of some astonishingly attractive music, much of it showing the good-natured influence of Czech folk traditions, some of it evocative and atmospheric – and almost all of it irresistibly charming.

Village Feast and the Little Dance Suite in particular inherit the joyful tradition of symphonic folk-dance familiar from the music of Dvořák and Smetana.

Most of the scores and performance materials for this recording were prepared by Michael Crump, the leading UK expert on Martinů’s music and author of Martinů and the Symphony (Toccata Press, 2010).

Toccata Press is publishing a new publication, Martinů’s Letters Home, to coincide with this release.