jmc's classics
Today is the birthday of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) He was a Czech composer. Like Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) he is overshadowed by Antonin Dvorak. He is remembered for several operas even though the Czechs are not known for their operas. He wrote several other works. Among them two String quartets #1 called the "Kreutzer Sonata" and # 2 "Intimate Letters". I have both on CD with the Medici Sting Quartet on the Nimbus label. It was inspired by Leo Tolstoy's book of the same name which was inspired by Beethoven's Violin sonata called Kreutzer which was dedicated to French violinist and composer Rudolph Kreutzer It dates from 1923 in four movements all called "Con Moto" The second one dates from 1928 by his relationship with a married women 38 years younger than him.
Like many other Czech composers Janacek drew on Czech folk music for inspiration. He did research on Czech folk music. He was married. I don't know if the intimate letters are available for the public. The CD I have also contains the only string quartet of Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) who was a Frenchmen. I don't see much in common with these two men. I also like the Faure quartet. It is in three movements: Allegro moderato, Andante and Allegro. Janecek wrote other orchestral music including a sinfonetta and a violin concerto which I am not familiar with. He is not as well known as Dvorak or Smetana but I do think that his music is well worth listening to.
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