Taras Bulba (rhapsody)

Taras Bulba is a rhapsody for orchestra by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček. It was composed between 1915 and 1918 and is one of the most famous of Janáček's works. It is based on the novel by Nikolai Gogol.

The first version of the work was finished on 2 July 1915, but Janáček later revised it and made substantial changes. The second, almost complete, version was finished on 29 March 1918. Taras Bulba was premiered at the National Theatre in Brno on 9 October 1921, conducted by František Neumann. The composition was dedicated to "our army, the armed protector of our nation". It was published by Hudební matice in 1924 in piano duet arrangement made by Břetislav Bakala. In 1927 the full score was published with further changes.

Janáček described the piece as a "rhapsody" and chose three episodes from Gogol's story to portray in this picturesque programmatic work.

The music is scored for piccolo (doubling flute), 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets (1st doubling E-flat clarinet), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon (doubling bassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, suspended cymbal (played with snare drum sticks), triangle, bells, harp, organ and strings.

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