Leoš Janáček

Donald Macleod illustrates Leos Janacek’s inner tensions through
five key relationships


One of the most original voices of the twentieth century, Leoš
Janáček was a composer, musical theorist, folklorist and teacher.
Born in 1854 in the Moravian village of Hukvaldy, which was then
part of the Austrian Empire, in his youth German was the language
of government, education and social influence. Having returned
from studies in Germany, Janáček made detailed studies of native
folk song and spent years annotating the natural rhythms of the
Czech language. He was to write all his works for stage in his
native language. The range of his professional activities gave
him a range of outlets to voice what quickly became a life-long
commitment to Czech culture.


Janáček was a contradictory man, who spent much of his life
feeling at odds with his circumstances. Through five of his
closest relationships, Donald Macleod builds a picture of how his
inner tensions found expression in his music.


Music featured: Suite for Strings, Andante con moto (3rd
movement) Four male-voice choruses Lachian Dances Šárka (excerpt
from Act 1) Sinfonietta Lavečka (The Bench) Theme with variations
(Zdenka Variations) Amarus (3rd movement) Janacek, rev.
Mackerras: The Cunning Little Vixen Orchestral Suite JW 1/9
Quartet no.1 (The Kreutzer Quartet) Nejistota JW V/2 Hukvaldy
Songs Taras Bulba Pohádka Jenůfa – excerpt from Act 1 Kat’a
Kabanova – Act 3 excerpt The diary of one who disappeared
(excerpt) Quartet for strings no. 2: Intimate Letters Glagolitic
Mass – Credo Žárlivost On the overgrown path (excerpts) The
Excursions of Mr Brouček The Fiddler’s Child Potulný šílenec


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC
Wales


For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Leoš Janáček
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cr48


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z