This thesis analyzes in detail the work of Leonard Bernstein: MASS. The analysis covers both the theoretical and formal point of view as well as the interpretation issues, while focusing specifically on the issue of interpreting the multi-genre musical work and its definition.

This thesis offers a brief overview of the life and the work of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. It was no coincidence that Robert Schumann called him the Mozart of the 19th century: Being a prodigy from a very early age, he composed with such an unbelievable lightness. Many of his compositions have become an essential part of the world of music nowadays. Equally, his pieces for the cello and the piano, which are dealt with in the second part of the thesis, have their remarkable qualities and they are worth playing.

The master thesis concerns with the Trio for violin, cello and piano Nr. 2 e minor by one of the most significant Russian composers of all times – Dmitry Shostakovich. Presenting a brief biography of the composer, the thesis continues introducing Ivan Ivanovich Sollertinsky, a very interesting personality of the Soviet cultural life and also one of the closest friends and colleagues of Shostakovich, to whom he dedicated his Trio Nr. 2. Following, there is a general introduction of the circumstances that influenced the composer’s life in those days, therefore also his musical language and the final shape of his Trio Nr. 2, including the circumstances of its premiere and also the most significant performers of this piece. The greatest part of the thesis concerns with an overal analysis of all the four movements of the composition from both technical and expressional point of view.

The thesis describes the purpose of the violin duo in conection with the composing the greatest works for this ensemble during the 20th century. It focuse on the history of the violin duo and its function during this historical progress. Then it describes the most significant works for two violins of the 20th century focusing on circumstances of its creation, describing the work itself and then it talks about the interpretative point of view.

This diploma thesis deals with the growing tendency of composers of Czech artificial music from the 1960s to the present to discover new technical possibilities of percussion instruments and then apply them to the musical process. The work contains several notes about the historical re-evaluation of the percussion instruments in the hands of the composers, and the emancipation of the percussion instruments in the work of Czech composers. The work contains several theoretical and interpretative analyzes, namely the analysis of works by Miloslav Kabeláč, Marek Kopelent and Daniel Chudovský. The aim of the work is to point out the increasing demands for interpretation of contemporary music for percussion instruments, but also the resonant plurality and openness of various composing personalities of the selected time period.

Subject of this master thesis is the Concert for violoncello by Arthur Honegger. This thesis aims to explore the circumstances in which the concerto was written, examine its basic structure, highlight the fact that despite its undeniable qualities it is not appreciated adequately and contribute to spread the knowledge about this wonderful piece of music as well as about the composer himself. The thesis is divided into two main parts. First one deals with composer’s life, focusing on period starting with his childhood to the composition of cello concerto. Second part is discussing the concerto, its formal, rhythmical and thematic structure, jazz influences and unusual performance techniques, cadences and available recordings.

This thesis focuses on the interpretation of harpsichord sonatas written by Josef Antonín Štěpán / Joseph Anton Steffan (1726–1797), who was an important figure in Viennese musical life of the eighteenth century. His works influenced a large number of his contemporaries, including Joseph Haydn, Jan Křtitel Vaňhal, Leopold Koželuh, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His compositional procedures departed from period conventions: a number of his sonatas and concertos for keyboard instruments begin with a slow introduction to an opening fast movement; he experimented with one-movement forms (sonatas, capriccios); in 1778 he published the very first collection of Germans songs with piano accompaniment in Vienna. The foundation for his music is his detailed knowledge of counterpoint and thoroughbass practice, and he draws on influences from Italian music, Czech folk music, the Gallant style and the Sensitive style. In his late works, he even arrives at a Pre-Romantic style. It is incomprehensible that he has nearly been forgotten in spite of his fame in his own day. In an attachement there is enclosed a critical edition of Steffan´s sonatas, PicŠ. 19–21 issued in ARTA (April 2017). Key words: Joseph Anton Steffan / Josef Antonín Štěpán Sonatas for keyboard instruments Sonata form Interpretation Chamber music with harpsichord Musical archive of the Arcibishop´s castle in Kremsier (the Czech Republic)

The main aim of this work is to introduce one of the most important Czech composers of the 20th century, Miloslav Kabeláč, specifically his works for organ. Kabeláč´s organ work includes two Fantasias op. 32, four preludes op. 48 and two sympohonies - 3rd symphony op. 33 and 8th symphony op. 54. For completion of author´s organ works I should not omit to mention the first Czech electroacoustic composition E fontibus Bohemicis - Six tableauxes from Czech annals op. 55. The first chapter is about composers´s life, following ones describe compositions. I also mentioned Kabeláč´s new typ of a notation.

This master´ s thesis aims to familiarize the reader with a rare personality of Czech music, composer and musicologist Zdeněk Šesták. Of his work is here most elaborated his Concerto for Viola and Orchestra "Sokratovské meditace? with the analysis of individual phrases and examples of sheet music, solo part and from the score. The work includes also other Czech composers, representatives of approximately the same generation as Mr. Šesták, but often completely different creative principles. The mainconnecting element is Viola concertanto works - concertos, sonatas, songs, or nontraditional pieces, where this instrument dominates.

The thesis concerns Malcolm Arnold, one of the most significant English composers of the 20th century, and his favorite instrument - the flute. In the biographical part it focuses on Arnold`s difficult and complicated life, his mental illness and the consequent impact of these facts on his work. It gives special attention to personalities and circumstances which are associated with Arnold`s compositions for flute. The second part involves formal and harmonical analysis of his two concertos for flute and orchestra and the Fantasy for solo flute. I have factored in the influences of different 20th century musical styles - serial methods, jazz, cabaret performances - in his composition techniques. The work is based on my personal interpretation experience.