Leoš Janáček wrote two string quartets. String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters", was written in 1928. It has been referred to as Janáček's "manifesto on love".[1]
The "Intimate Letters" quartet was the second to be composed after a request from the Bohemian Quartet who, in 1923, requested Janáček to compose two string quartets for them. The first was the "Kreutzer Sonata" quartet.
Unusually for a classical work, the nickname "Intimate Letters" ("Listy důvěrné" in Czech) was given by the composer, as it was inspired by his long and spiritual friendship with Kamila Stösslová, a married woman 38 years his junior. The composition was intended to reflect the character of their relationship as revealed in more than 700 letters they exchanged with each other:
"You stand behind every note, you, living, forceful, loving. The fragrance of your body, the glow of your kisses – no, really of mine. Those notes of mine kiss all of you. They call for you passionately..."
The première of the work took place on 11 September 1928, a month after Janáček died. The composition was performed by the Moravian Quartet.[1]
Structureedit
It consists of four movements:
Andante - Con moto - Allegro
Adagio - Vivace
Moderato - Andante - Adagio
Allegro - Andante - Adagio
The viola assumes a prominent role throughout the composition, as this instrument is intended to personify Kamila. The viola part was originally written for a viola d'amore, however the conventional viola was substituted when Janáček found the viola d'amore did not match the texture. Milan Škampa of the Smetana Quartet has interpreted the third "letter", or movement, as a lullaby for the son that Janáček and Kamila Stösslová never had together.
The work is essentially tonal albeit not in the traditional sense. For example, the work closes with six D-flat major chords (Janáček's favourite chord), but with the added dissonance of an E-flat.
string, quartet, janáček, leoš, janáček, wrote, string, quartets, string, quartet, intimate, letters, written, 1928, been, referred, janáček, manifesto, love, contents, background, structure, references, external, linksbackground, editthe, intimate, letters, q. Leos Janacek wrote two string quartets String Quartet No 2 Intimate Letters was written in 1928 It has been referred to as Janacek s manifesto on love 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Structure 3 References 4 External linksBackground editThe Intimate Letters quartet was the second to be composed after a request from the Bohemian Quartet who in 1923 requested Janacek to compose two string quartets for them The first was the Kreutzer Sonata quartet Unusually for a classical work the nickname Intimate Letters Listy duverne in Czech was given by the composer as it was inspired by his long and spiritual friendship with Kamila Stosslova a married woman 38 years his junior The composition was intended to reflect the character of their relationship as revealed in more than 700 letters they exchanged with each other You stand behind every note you living forceful loving The fragrance of your body the glow of your kisses no really of mine Those notes of mine kiss all of you They call for you passionately The premiere of the work took place on 11 September 1928 a month after Janacek died The composition was performed by the Moravian Quartet 1 Structure editIt consists of four movements Andante Con moto Allegro Adagio Vivace Moderato Andante Adagio Allegro Andante AdagioThe viola assumes a prominent role throughout the composition as this instrument is intended to personify Kamila The viola part was originally written for a viola d amore however the conventional viola was substituted when Janacek found the viola d amore did not match the texture Milan Skampa of the Smetana Quartet has interpreted the third letter or movement as a lullaby for the son that Janacek and Kamila Stosslova never had together The work is essentially tonal albeit not in the traditional sense For example the work closes with six D flat major chords Janacek s favourite chord but with the added dissonance of an E flat References edit a b Havlik Jaromir 2000 Leos Janacek Vitezslav Novak String Quartets CD Janacek Quartet Grafova Sarah trans Prague Supraphon p 3 SU 3460 2 111 External links editString Quartet No 2 Intimate Letters Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title String Quartet No 2 Janacek amp oldid 1150724452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
