Thread: Leos Janacek

He just seemed to get better and better - the works of his last 20 or so years were very distinctive and had the benefit of sounding new and fresh but not gratuitously novel.

Originally Posted by Habib

A big innovator in early C20th music even though he was born in the middle of the C19th. While some composers who reached their 60's don't compose much of consequence, Janacek's late works are his greatest, including several operas, the mighty Glagothic Mass, and the passionate String Quartets. The Sinfonietta (innacurately named as it is scored for a huge orchestra) and the earlier symphonic rhapsody Taras Bulba are also worthy of mention.

He definitely did not compromise in his music, and wrote what he felt. Some criticised him for this, saying he was negating the music of his friend and compatriot Dvorak or the earlier Smetana. In some ways, he had a quite wierd and idiosyncratic way of composing (eg. writing down in musical notation some passionate conversation he overheard, or the clucking of hens). He was a different drummer playing his own tune, but this fact just enhances my appreciation of his unique style. One of my favourite composers and, although he was of an earlier generation, his works can seem just as startling and bold as Stravinsky, Bartok or Hindemith.

What do people think?

Yes indeed, for his genius. I consider him the father of Modern.

I love Janacek!

Leoš Janácek

Work
Janácek: Pohadka JW 7/5

Artists
Gilbert Kalish Joel Krosnick
http://open.spotify.com/album/4kihlhJkCynlkpSWFklSVN
http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Jan%C3...0328339&sr=8-1

Very delicate and evocative work.
Presentation are nice and subtle. The interplay between piano and strings is very good, and the sound is excellent.





Work
Janácek: Srting Quartet No 1 JW 7/8

Artists
Smetana Quartet
http://open.spotify.com/album/6XzZAdafwshLjfH5yhx8BT
http://www.amazon.com/Janacek-String...0332831&sr=8-1

Excellent performance and sound of this fine quartet!





Work
Janácek: String Quartet No. 2 “Intimate Letters” JW 7/13

Artists
Skampa Quartet
http://open.spotify.com/album/2xi2lXe6W2UNJwIU1GIqKM
http://www.amazon.com/Janacek-String...0332763&sr=8-1

The second string quartet is also excellent!
Unbelievably great nerve in this performance. Interplay is great, and sounds very good.

Nice selection, oskaar. There are several excellent recordings of the string quartets. I'm not sure that any technically competent ensemble could destroy that music though.

I loved Janáček from the first moment I heard him on a concert with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra playing an arrangement of his 2nd string quartet. His tonal language just hits home with me. As someone in a youtube comment once said: "Janáček skips the ears and goes straight to the heart."

I love Janacek´s music since I heard the Glagolitic Mass… In my opinion is a very special composer, he gets many surprising effects of modernity with a relatively traditional materials. Moreover, their music is a strange and curious mixture of violence and tenderness. The way he use to he build the music is far removed from the classical European tradition in the organical development sense. He reminds me a little of Mussorgsky.
Besides the works mentioned, I like very much the Concertino for piano, two violins, clarinet and horn:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F8d0XAkXptg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Originally Posted by Habib

The Sinfonietta (innacurately named as it is scored for a huge orchestra)

Correctly named. The diminutive doesn't refer to the forces required, it refers to the intellectual level of the content. Sibelius 5 it ain't - admirable a work though it is.

Well i like his lone symphony which sounds great.

I've just been listening to Janacek's String Quartets and have been bowled over by them - wonderful music. I think, though, that Hilltroll was wrong to say, "I'm not sure that any technically competent ensemble could destroy that music." They certainly can't destroy it, but very few recordings I have sampled seem to come anywhere close to the tremendous angst of the first quartet as achieved by the above suggestion of the Hagen Quartet and this live performance by the Alban Berg Quartet:



Listen to these, especially the 3rd movement of the 1st, and it will be like you're hearing totally different music compared to most recordings. There's no going back once you have.

I would like to draw your attention to a new CD-release with piano works of Leoš Janáček. The performer, Mrs. Danae Doerken, is an exceptional young German/Greek pianist, who has chosen the works of Leoš Janáček for her Debut-CD.
It is a very interesting CD to listen to.
Here is the link to the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW9BrkaoGw8