一位失蹤者的日記 (The Diary of One Who Disappeared / Zápisník zmizelého) (歌曲集) - 一部感人且富有戲劇性的歌曲集,為男高音、女中音和鋼琴而作。
Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) was a prominent Czech composer, music theorist, folklorist, and teacher. He is recognized as one of the most original and progressive composers of the 20th century. Born in Hukvaldy, Moravia, Janáček's early musical training included studies in Brno, Prague, Leipzig, and Vienna.
His unique musical style was deeply inspired by Moravian and other Slavic folk music, as well as by the natural rhythms and inflections of the Czech language. This interest in "speech-melody" is a hallmark of his vocal writing, giving his operas a distinctive, almost jagged, lyrical quality. He was also a passionate collector of folk songs and a significant figure in the study of folklore.
Janáček's international recognition came relatively late in his career. While he composed throughout his life, many of his most celebrated works were created in the last decade of his life, after his opera Jenůfa gained widespread acclaim in 1916. His later works often feature unique subject matter, sometimes derived from unexpected sources like a newspaper comic strip (as in The Cunning Little Vixen) or a legal argument (The Makropulos Affair).
He was primarily an opera composer, with nine operas to his name, many of which are now staples in global opera houses. Beyond opera, his output includes significant orchestral, chamber, and choral works, all characterized by his individualistic and often dissonant yet expressive musical language. He often used large blocks of sound and forceful melodic repetitions, creating a powerful and immersive experience for the listener.
Here are 15 of his popular and notable music compositions:
Jenůfa (Její pastorkyňa) (Opera) - Often considered his breakthrough work and a cornerstone of 20th-century opera.
Sinfonietta (Orchestral) - Known for its powerful opening fanfare and vivid orchestral colors, depicting scenes from his native Brno.
Glagolitic Mass (Glagolská mše) (Choral/Sacred) - A large-scale work for chorus, soloists, orchestra, and organ, set to an Old Church Slavonic text.
The Cunning Little Vixen (Příhody Lišky Bystroušky) (Opera) - A charming and philosophically rich opera inspired by a comic strip, depicting the lives of animals and humans.
Káťa Kabanová (Opera) - A tragic opera based on Ostrovsky's play "The Storm," known for its lyrical beauty and dramatic intensity.
From the House of the Dead (Z mrtvého domu) (Opera) - Janáček's final opera, a stark and powerful adaptation of Dostoevsky's novel.
The Makropulos Affair (Věc Makropulos) (Opera) - A fascinating and complex opera exploring themes of immortality and the meaning of life.
Taras Bulba (Orchestral Rhapsody) - A programmatic work inspired by Gogol's novel, reflecting Janáček's interest in Russian literature.
String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" - A deeply personal and passionate chamber work, reflecting his infatuation with Kamila Stösslová.
On an Overgrown Path (Po zarostlém chodníčku) (Piano Cycle) - A collection of evocative miniature piano pieces, often melancholic and introspective.
Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 "From the Street" (Z ulice) - A powerful piano sonata commemorating a worker's protest in Brno.
In the Mists (V mlhách) (Piano Cycle) - Another set of atmospheric and contemplative piano pieces.
String Quartet No. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - Inspired by Tolstoy's novella, a dramatic and intense chamber work.
Mládí (Youth) (Sextet for wind instruments) - A spirited and charming chamber work for wind ensemble.
The Diary of One Who Disappeared (Zápisník zmizelého) (Song Cycle) - A poignant and dramatic song cycle for tenor, mezzo-soprano, and piano.
talk about the musician Leos Janacek and list 15 his popular music such as Symphony No. 1 Movement: Allegro Majestic