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Bohuslav Martinů composed his Overture for orchestra, H. 345, also known by its Czech title Předehra, in November 1953, during his years in the United States. The work is dedicated to the Parent Association of the High School of Music and Art in New York, reflecting Martinů's engagement with American musical life in the final stretch of his time there before returning to Europe. It comes from a remarkably productive period that also produced his Symphony No. 6 and his Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra, both completed that same year, placing the Overture squarely within one of the most fertile stretches of the composer's mature output.

A compact, single-movement concert opener, the Overture displays Martinů's characteristic blend of rhythmic energy, neoclassical clarity, and vivid orchestral color, making it an ideal curtain-raiser for a concert program. Its concise structure and immediate melodic appeal offer a striking introduction to Martinů's mature orchestral style without requiring the scale of a full symphony, and its accessible, high-spirited character has made it a rewarding discovery for orchestras and audiences alike. This score and set of parts offers ensembles an excellent opportunity to bring a lively and skillfully crafted overture by one of the twentieth century's most distinctive orchestral voices to the concert stage.