Janacek chamber music

Tam,

if you still don't have this one, I believe that many would say it should be first to have

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000030SB/ref=nosim/classiccdguid-20

The best place to start is with his string quartets. Definitely go with a Czech ensemble first. The Panocha, Talich (the earlier, Supraphon recording), or Prazak Quartets offer the best versions I've heard. Non-Czech ensembles just don't seem to get this music. Not even the Juilliard really deliver this music.

If you opt for the Prazak, I recommend getting the three-disc set with quartets by Dvorak and Smetana as well. (See below.) In addition to the other composers' works, you'll also get Janacek's Violin Sonata in one heck of a fien performance - possibly the best of the half-dozen I've heard. Mladi is another extremely fine chamber work.

I would go for the String Quartets in the modern Talich Quartet version on Calliope. They seem to convey an understanding of the music which is quite absent in The Lindsays disc.
Ken

Tam,
Just a few further thoughts, now that I have a little more time. I haven't heard the Prazak versions, but they look interesting, especially in the set with the Smetana and Dvorak quartets.

The Talich Quartet on Calliope also have a 3 disc set of Czech String Quartets, with quartets by Smetana, Dvorak, Fibich and Schulhof. Excellent playing and sound.

The Pavel Haas Quartet have recorded all the Janacek string quartets, including the seldom-played No 3 and a 1-movement quartet (No. 1, Op 3) in C sharp minor. I have their Supraphon disc of Nos 1 and 3, with the C sharp minor and I find it very enjoyable. They have recorded another disc with No. 2, but I have not yet heard it.

I very much like some of Jnacek's other chamber works and 3 of these appear on a Decca 2 CD set, 448 255-2. My own favourites are "Mladi", a wind sextet and "Capriccio", scored for 6 brass instruments, flute and piano (left hand). This Decca set could be sold as a "Best of Janacek", also including Mackerras' "Sinfonietta" and "Taras Bulba" with the Vienna PO, Marriner's "Suite for String Orchestra" and Huybrechts' "Lachian Dances". All highly enjoyable.

Regards,
Ken

Tam,
I'd like to agree with the above posts. Yes, look for the two String Quartets. I've heard some of the Janacek Quartet and some of the Smetana Quartet for this. Their is also a Concertino for piano and chamber orchestra and a Capriccio for piano (left hand) and wind instruments. I have this on Deutsche Grammophon and Firkusny and Kubelik.

I'm sure you'd enjoy the Fairy Tale or the Presto for Cello and Piano. As well, I believe their are the Sonata, Romance, Allegro, and Dumka for Violin and Piano.

In the strictest terms I know you asked only about chamber music. So if I could be so bold and recommend some solo piano I would highly recommend any of the following:

On an Overgrown Path, Book I & II
In the Mist
Sonata 1.X.1905

Some very interesting stories behind the Sonata and this music in general.

Regards,
Doug

This is the problem with this forum - you end up having to buy loads of copies of each piece

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I think I shall start with the quartets, but I'm not at all sure whose.


Ken, thinking about it I do have most of the stuff you mention on the Decca set (as a lot of them are coupled with the Mackerras recordings of the operas). I possibly ought to revisit them first.


regards, Tam

Hi

Very interesting thread - had a look for some of these recordings, but got nowhere - does anybody have any links to help me.

Many thanks, Rotf

Tam
not sure if you do CD or vinyl (or both). I've got an old Decca Ace of Diamonds LP of the Gabrieli Quart. and it sounds great. No idea if it's avail. in CD.

quote:

In the strictest terms I know you asked only about chamber music. So if I could be so bold and recommend some solo piano I would highly recommend any of the following:

On an Overgrown Path, Book I & II
In the Mist
Sonata 1.X.1905

I heartily agree with Doug. The other day, I picked up a cheap Regis CD of all these three works played by Kvapil. It's a different Janacek, but it's still wonderful music.
Ken

Thanks Ken. I was just thinking that my first exposure to the music of Janacek came exactly 20 years ago this year (1988). Before that I don't recall having any knowledge of him or his music. Strangely enough, it was a movie that introduced me to Janacek and the connection was instantaneous. What I had heard impacted me profoundly in such a way that I simply had to pursue and find out who wrote this music. The movie (and book by Milan Kundera) was called "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." Throughout the movie you get a exposure to solo piano, cello/piano, and the quartets and in my mind the music made the movie. To this day (for better or worse) when I hear this music I just get images in my mind of what I think Czechoslovakia is like (Prague and the country side) based on the visual aspects from this movie as I recall them (after-all, it has been 20 years). For some reason, the piano music always gives me the sense of the country (farming) or countryside and the string quartets strike me as being more urban (intellectual). This music also gives me an undeniable craving for Pilsner Urquell.

ROTF - Just go to Amazon or Arkiv and do some searching for the many quartets listed above. The Smetana Quartet is pretty good. DG had a 2cd with Rudolf Firkusny/Rafael Kubelik and for piano music either Rudolf Firkusny or Andras Schiff. Everybody will play it slightly differently but these are good starting points. You could also get the movie soundtrack as mentioned above.

Best Regards,
Doug

Try the string quartets - great music, up there with the very best of string quartets.

Florestan
Nice aticle you wrote about ULOB movie.I am from Czechoslovakia and never new that was Janacek playing in that movie but when I was watching this movie at that time I was not in high end so I did not acknowledge how great and beautifull music we have here in Czech and Slovak Rep.Smetana/Ma Vlast,Dvorak/New world,Janacek etc are timeless classics.And czech composers of course have the right feeling how to express this music right.