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Religious societies called „Sbory literátské“ (Union of literates) that numbered amongst them the leading and wealthiest burghers of every town, were warm supporters of the art; spending large sums in providing hymn books, existing copies of these works now command a very high price.
In the seventeenth century the use of instrumental music in churches became more general and Bohemians were to be found in every country where good instrumentalists were in demand. One of the artists of this time who was famous as a violinist was Jan Stanitz (1717—61) founder of the classic form of symphony at Mannheim.
Many of our musicians who went to foreign countries were influenced by the prevailing style of composition in the land of their adoption. This is very evident in the works of Josef Mysliveček, they show the effect of his residence in Italy.
The style of Bohemian music in the eighteenth century has a strongly marked national character both in the melodies and their harmonic treatment as shown in the compositions of such masters of counterpoint as Bohuslav Černohorský, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Fr. Habermann (some of whose themes were adopted by Handel)), Jan Zach and Fr. Tůma.
To the end of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth, the leadership in all that pertained to the art, was acknowledged by the musical world to be in the masterly hands of Beethoven and Mozart. Numbered in the ranks of their enthusiastic followers in Bohemia were the leading national composers; such as the refined and poetic pianist Jan Lad. Dušek, and Mozart's great admirer Václav Jan Tomášek (1774—1850).
During the reign of the romantic school in Germany, the first original Bohemian opera was composed by that excellent musician, Frant. Škroup (1801—62).
The earnest study of the beauties of national songs was the source of inspiration which led Pavel Křížkovský (1820—85) to produce his characteristic works. This chorals are splendid examples of this particular form of composition. The works of Bedřich Smetana exhibit to a marked degree the special beauties of the genuine Bohemian style.
