Jaroslav Křička (1882-1969)

Severní noci (Northern Lights, Op. 14, 1909/10)

III. Ukolébavka (Lullaby)

After graduating the Prague Conservatory and spending a year in Berlin, Křička moved to Russia, where he taught music — primarily theory. He was a lover of Russian poetry, and was specifically influenced by Glinka and Mussorgsky. His musical idols, however, were the Czech nationalists (Smetana, Dvořák, and Fibich), and he held an appreciation for contemporary composers Vítězslav Novák and Josef Suk. Upon returning to Czechoslovakia in 1918, he was appointed to the composition faculty of the Prague Conservatory and conducted various choirs, including the Czech Philharmonic choir. He served as rector of the Prague Conservatory during the years of the German Occupation (1942-1945). In 1957, he was honored by the Czech Academy of Arts and Sciences with the Artist of Merit award.

Křička composed primarily vocal music, ranging from songs to operas to children's song cycles. Severní noci is, perhaps, one of his most performed song cycles.

While in Russia, he composed this song cycle, with the original text by Russian symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont. In "Ukolébavka," though subtle, one can hear his affinity for humor in the playful accompaniment over a folk-like vocal melody.

The light wind went to sleep

and the pale evening burned down.

The flaming stars in the sky sweetly ask of you: sleep!

You do not need to be afraid of fate,

for nanny will cradle you and sing: báju, bájušky, bajú.

He who knows the mountain’s thorn

rests in the dark night.

Everything slumbers and dreams

in the quiet time of midnight.

We all rest; the bird, flower, and orchard, too.

All night long I’ll sing to you: báju, bajušky, bajú!