3 smíšené sbory op. 16

Josef Bohuslav Foerster's three mixed-voice choruses, Op. 16, are a collection of Czech secular part-songs. The first chorus vividly paints the arrival of spring, with gentle breezes awakening buds and wildflowers, the sun shining, and skylarks singing joyful news. Children and elders alike emerge into the warm, bright day, immersing themselves in the paradise of life as spring approaches. The second chorus offers a more reflective perspective, contemplating the poet's connection to his native fields. The composer asks who will tend these lands and cherish them after he is gone, envisioning a time when un-sown grass will bloom upon his grave, leaving the question of future ownership and affection unanswered.