Final answer:
Bedřich Smetana is considered the founder of Czech national music for his use of folk elements and composition of operas in the Czech language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The founder of Czech national music and the first to compose operas in the Bohemian language, integrating native folk dances into his instrumental works, was Bedřich Smetana. He is renowned for his opera The Bartered Bride, as well as symphonic poems like Vltava (The Moldau), which is part of the symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Country). Smetana's work embraced Czech nationalism and folk elements, pioneering the use of native language and culture within the classical music tradition. His efforts significantly contributed to the development of a national musical identity for the Czech people.Important to note, the provided information about Alphonse Mucha, a prominent Czech artist who is celebrated for his contributions to the Art Nouveau movement and his series of paintings known as The Slav Epic, does not relate directly to the main answer concerning Czech national music. Similarly, other figures mentioned such as Igor Stravinsky, Homer Plessy, and Jan Palach have had different historical impacts within their respective fields and events.In conclusion, Bedřich Smetana is heralded as the father of Czech national music for his visionary integration of native folk elements into classical compositions and creating operas in the Czech language, embodying the spirit and culture of his homeland in his art.