Music powerfully affects Man, both intellectually and emotionally. This makes it an extremely effective tool in a political action which may help to establish, confirm, consolidate, legitimize as well as criticize, question or break a political order.

Music as a tool of a political propagandaMusic, primarily understood as an aesthetic experience or a form of entertainment, may serve as a perfect instrument for propaganda and its ends. The communist officials were well aware of its efficiency in transmitting the ideological message.

Music, whether it is a protest song or a classical piece, can be medium of a strong protest character. While in non-democratic regimes, including the socialist Czechoslovakia, musicians use hidden codes and encryption to express political dissent, in democracies they do it openly.

The ruling power in communist Czechoslovakia faced nonconformist music genres not only via imposed standards (qualifying examination), but also through repression. The reactions of the oppressed were various: the pursuit of loud music production (punk), using the loopholes in the system in place (Jazzová sekce, Jazz section), ignoring the ban (underground) or forming temporary independent zones (freetekno).

Music as a political protest

Music and repression

Music and revolutionMusic plays a unique role in the theatre of revolutions. The simple language of revolutionary songs transmits effectively the desired interpretation of events. Their rhythm, melody and community singing help release emotions and trigger off the revolutionary spirit.

Bedřich Smetana: Píseň svobody (Song of Freedom) – lyrics by Josef J. Kolář, autograph score, Bohemia, 1848

Bedřich Smetana, at the time 24 years old, was in contact with the radical democrats and even took part in the fights in the barricades.

Music as a tool shaping the collective identityMusic significantly participated in the process of Czech national revival as well as in the working-class formation. It accompanies both national and working-class manifestations and rituals.

Emma Destinová as Czech mythological figure Libuše, National Theatre, Prague, 1913

Music as a manifestation of StatehoodAfter the formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 national symbolism blended with state symbolism. The statehood was represented as something that had been torn apart by force and all that was left for the nation was to reunite with it. In such a situation, music played a quintessential role.

Photographs and a scenic design from the scene “Where my home is.” VIII. Sokol festival in Prague, 1926

Music and warMusic can adopt various roles in the context of war. It points out the absurdity of war. It also helps the soldiers to overcome fear and it is played during the victory celebrations. For those struck by war music helps in different ways to evoke briefly “everyday life”. Music may even save one’s life.

Photograph of Jožka Kubík, Czechoslovakia, 1972National Institute of Folk culture, Strážnice

During the 2nd World War 90 % of Moravian Roma died in concentration camps. Jožka Kubík and several other musicians from the Horňácko region were taken off the transport thanks to their artistic quality.

Poster through which American soldiers invited Czech girls to a dance party held on 20 July 1945

The participants of the II. National Spartakiade walking in a procession through Prague (Wenceslas Square), Czechoslovakia, 1960

Girls’ Gymnastic suit from the last Czechoslovak Spartakiade, Czechoslovakia, 1985

Photograph of Ivo Kachtík, Czechoslovakia, 1980sFrom the personal collection of Ivo Kachtík

One of the famous representatives of the Czech underground and punk culture. Classified as a social society enemy, he was imprisoned twice and detained three times during the communist regime.

Techno fans’ event organized in support of the imprisoned members of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot, Czech Republic, 2013

The fall of the communist regime changed the way in which the political power and those who strive for it use music for their ends. The medium carrying an

ideological message turns into a mere ornament accompanying the political campaigns along with goulash, balloons and badges.

Music in contemporary political campaign

Celebration organized by the Civic Forum before the first free elections to the Chamber of Deputies, Czechoslovakia, 1990

The ODS (Civic Democratic Party) election campaign in the Chamber of Deputies, Czechoslovakia, 1998Václav Klaus along with his wife Livia in the foreground, music band Spirituál kvintet in the background.

The events of the Pentecostal Uprising in Prague in 1948

Curator: Jitka Gelnarová

Team of authors: Jitka Gelnarová, Věra Šustíková, Peter Balog, Vojtěch Mojžíš, Ondřej Táborský, Šárka Rámišová

This is an abbreviated, photographic version of the exhibition. The objects and photographs displayed here are part of the collections of the National Museum in Prague, unless noted otherwise.

Czech Museum of MusicNational MuseumKarmelitská 2/4, 118 00 Praha 1c_muzeum_hudby@nm.cz +420 257 257 777

Historical MuseumNational MuseumVinohradská 1, 110 00 Praha 1nm@nm.cz +420 224 497 111 / 118

15. 5. 2014 – 29. 3. 2015 Národní památník na Vítkově