Taras Bulba is a rhapsody for orchestra by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček.
Taras Bulba was premiered at the National Theatre in Brno on 9 October 1921, conducted by František Neumann.
[2] It was published by Hudební matice in 1924 in piano duet arrangement made by Břetislav Bakala.
Janáček described the piece as a "rhapsody" and chose three episodes from Gogol's story to portray in this programmatic work.
The music is scored for piccolo (doubling 3rd flute), 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets (1st doubling E-flat clarinet), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon (doubling 3rd bassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, suspended cymbal (played with snare drum sticks), triangle, bells, harp, organ and strings.