Sinfonietta (Janáček)

The Sinfonietta (subtitled 'Military Sinfonietta' or 'Sokol Festival') is a very expressive and festive, late work for large orchestra (of which 25 brass players) by the Moravian/Czech composer Leoš Janáček. It is dedicated 'To the Czechoslovak Armed Forces' and Janáček said it was intended to express 'contemporary free man, his spiritual beauty and joy, his strength, courage and determination to fight for victory.' It started by Janáček listening to a brass band, becoming inspired to write some fanfares of his own. When the organisers of the "Sokol Gymnastic Festival" approached him for a commission, he developed the material into the Sinfonietta. He later dropped the word 'military'. The first performance was in Prague on 26 June 1926 under Václav Talich, together with his Glagolitic Mass. Typical performance duration is 20 - 25 minutes.

Orchestration

The score calls for 2 flutes and piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 9 trumpets in C, 3 trumpets in F, 2 bass trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 tenor tubas, bass tuba, timpani, cymbals, bells, harp, and strings.

Structure

The piece is in five movements, all of which have descriptive subtitles:

*I. Allegretto (Fanfare)
*II. Andante (The Castle, Brno)
*III. Moderato (The Queen's Monastery, Brno)
*IV. Allegretto (The Street Leading to the Castle)
*V. Andante con moto (The Town Hall, Brno)

The work is typical of Janáček's tight construction, the material of each movement deriving from the opening motif. It features several variants based on Janáček's original fanfares The first movement is scored only for brass and percussion. The second movement begins with a rapid ostinato from the wind, but later has a more lyrical episode. The third begins quietly in the strings, but is interrupted by a stern figure in the trombones, leading to another fast dance-like passage. In the fourth movement, Janáček celebrates the newly liberated Czechoslovakia with a joyous trumpet fanfare. The finale begins in the key of E-flat minor with a calm retrograde version of the opening melody. However, this quickly moves into a triumphant finale, the return of the opening fanfare decorated with swirling figures in the strings and wind.

A rearrangement of the opening of the Sinfonietta was used by the progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer for its song "Knife-Edge" on their debut album.

elected recordings

*EMI 5-66980-2 Simon Rattle/Philharmonia Orchestra
*London 410138-2 Sir Charles Mackerras/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
*Telarc CD-80174 Andre Previn/Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
*Supraphon 110282-2 František Jílek/Brno Philharmonic Orchestra
*Virgin VC791506-2 Libor Pešek/Philharmonia Orchestra