70 years of Bohuslav Martinů’s cantata 'The Opening of the Wells'
In the deep forests of the Vysočina region, in the unassuming village of Tři Studně (Three Wells), Bohuslav Martinů composed one of his most lyrical works. Two small forest springs – Barborka and Vitulka – inspired the composer to create the cantata Otvírání studánek (The Opening of the Wells), which celebrates 70 years since its premiere this year.
Martinů visited Tři Studně in 1938 at the invitation of his pupil and muse, Vítězslava Kaprálová. The local landscape, quiet forests, and personal memories provided the emotional foundation for the later composition of the cantata. Kaprálová – nicknamed Vitulka – is even reflected symbolically in the name of one of the springs.
From poetry to music
The text of the cantata is based on a poem by Miloslav Bureš, which describes an old springtime ritual of cleaning natural wells – a simple yet deeply symbolic ceremony of renewal. Martinů composed the music in just ten days in 1955, creating a work for soloists, a women’s choir, a narrator, and a chamber orchestra.
The cantata’s musical language is extraordinarily pure. Lyrical melodies evoke flowing water, delicate choral passages recall the folk songs of the Vysočina region, and nostalgic motifs pay tribute to Kaprálová, who died tragically young. The result is a work that combines folklore, natural symbolism, and personal memory into one of Martinů’s most moving compositions.
A tradition that lives on
A naturally formed amphitheatre still stands on the site, where the Opening of the Wells festival is held every year. Children’s folklore groups symbolically clean the springs, and Martinů’s masterpiece comes alive once again in the landscape that inspired it.
What is a cantata?
A cantata (from the Latin cantare – “to sing”) is a composition for soloists, choir, and orchestra. The genre originated in the 17th century and was explored by composers such as Bach, Dvořák, and Smetana. Martinů returned to it repeatedly, and The Opening of the Wells is one of his most lyrical and poetic contributions.
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