Bedřich Smetana, the revered father of Czech music, passed away on May 12, 1884, at the age of 60, in Prague. His death, officially attributed to senile dementia, followed a period of profound physical and mental decline, which his family and some medical analyses later linked to syphilis. Smetana's passing marks the end of an era for Czech music, leaving behind a monumental legacy that includes groundbreaking operas such as The Bartered Bride and the iconic symphonic cycle Má vlast. His funeral was held on May 15, 1884, at the Týn Church in Prague's Old Town, followed by a procession to the Vyšehrad Cemetery, a site that would become a pilgrimage for admirers of his work.