Description
Book SynopsisBrings together several Leos Janacek scholars to look closely at a range of issues surrounding his life and work. This book features essays accompanied by translated writings by the composer himself. It includes essays on Naturalism, opera direction, and Tristan and Isolde and four impressionistic chronicles of the 'speech melodies' of daily life.
Trade Review"This series of essays serves to confirm Janacek's place in the pantheon of great composers."--Library Journal "Every part of this volume offers much of value."--Jan Smaczny, BBC Music Magazine "I would recommend this book to anyone interested in music or in exploring the development of the nationalistic movement in music. Part I not only gives insight into Janacek the man and composer, but also Part II delves into Janacek the writer and his genuine attempts to comprehend the relationship between musical phenomena and human thought and language. Part II, 'Janacek's Writings,' has numerous musical examples to allow one to follow the composer's creative process."--Carol Ann Modesitt, Opera Journal
Table of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*Acknowledgments, pg. ix*Introduction: Janacek and Our World, pg. 1*The Cultural Politics of Language and Music: Max Brod and Leos Janacek, pg. 13*How Janacek Composed Operas, pg. 55*Janacek and the Captured Muse, pg. 79*Reinterpreting Janacek and Kamila: Dangerous Liaisons in Czech Fin-de-Siecle Music and Literature, pg. 99*A Turk and a Moravian in Prague: Janacek's Broucek and the Perils of Musical Patriotism, pg. 145*Zdenka Janackova's Memoirs and the Fallacy of Music as Autobiography, pg. 165*Janacek's Vizitka, pg. 197*Introduction: Janacek-Writer, pg. 219*"Tristan and Isolde By Richard Wagner" (1884-1885), pg. 221*"My Luhacovice" (1903), pg. 226*"Last Year and this Year" (1905), pg. 239*"An Example from Podskali" (1909), pg. 254*"Whitsunday 1910 in Prague" (1910), pg. 258*"Stage Direction" (1918), pg. 271*'Janacek On Naturalism" (1924-1925), pg. 287*Index, pg. 307*Notes on the Contributors, pg. 315
