Hudebníkem u čs. kavalerie v Rusku – Drábek Tomáš (2022)

The publication Musician in the Czechoslovak Cavalry in Russia consists of five parts and provides a distinctive testimony about the famous period of Czechoslovak legionnaires in Russia. The most important part is the relatively unconventional memoirs of Alois Semerád. They do not focus on the most commonly discussed topics, such as combat operations or the internal political situation within the Czechoslovak army. Given the author's engagement with the regimental band of the 1st Czechoslovak Cavalry Regiment, the emphasis is placed on the musical production for which the legionnaires in Russia were literally famous. Alois Semerád himself held a significant position as the deputy bandmaster of the regimental band, thus becoming an actor in almost all significant events in which 'his' musical ensemble participated during the tumultuous years of 1918 to 1920 – from acquiring instruments to concerts and even combat encounters during the attack by a Bolshevik unit. The memoirs are supplemented by several short chapters on related topics – a summary of the Czechoslovak Legion in Russia, the history of the 1st Czechoslovak Cavalry Regiment, legionnaire musical ensembles, and last but not least, the further life of the memoir's author, Alois Semerád.