Until
1918, Moravia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire. German was the
language of the ruling classes, while Czech was considered a peasant language.
On October 1, 1905 the Austrians of Brno organized a demonstration objecting to
a request from the Czechs for a university of their own. The Czechs retaliated.
As factions clashed, the police and army intervened, and a young carpenter was
bayoneted.
The poignant sonata "From the Street" was Leoš Janáček's memorial to
this human tragedy. In his preface to the score, Janáček wrote "The white
marble staircase/of the House of Artists in Brno... a simple worker Frantiček
Pavlik / falls, stained with blood... / He came only to plead for a
university... / And was killed by cruel murderers". Loosely a sonata-type
design, the piece originally contained three parts. But on the day of the first
performance-given by Ludmila Tučkova on January 21, 1906-Janaček in a fit of
self-criticism tore-up and burned the last movement. The other two he threw
into the river. They survived only because Tučkova had already copied them out:
it was from her manuscript that the composer later authorized the work to be
published in two halves: Presentiment and Death.
Classical Music | Piano Music
Leoš Janáček
Piano Sonata 1.X.1905, From the Street Play
Recorded on 03/31/2010, uploaded on 08/05/2010
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Sonata I.X.1905 "From the Street" Leoš Janáček
I. The Presentiment; II. The Death
Until 1918, Moravia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire. German was the language of the ruling classes, while Czech was considered a peasant language. On October 1, 1905 the Austrians of Brno organized a demonstration objecting to a request from the Czechs for a university of their own. The Czechs retaliated. As factions clashed, the police and army intervened, and a young carpenter was bayoneted.
The poignant sonata "From the Street" was Leoš Janáček's memorial to this human tragedy. In his preface to the score, Janáček wrote "The white marble staircase/of the House of Artists in Brno... a simple worker Frantiček Pavlik / falls, stained with blood... / He came only to plead for a university... / And was killed by cruel murderers". Loosely a sonata-type design, the piece originally contained three parts. But on the day of the first performance-given by Ludmila Tučkova on January 21, 1906-Janaček in a fit of self-criticism tore-up and burned the last movement. The other two he threw into the river. They survived only because Tučkova had already copied them out: it was from her manuscript that the composer later authorized the work to be published in two halves: Presentiment and Death.
Pia Bose
More music by Leoš Janáček
On an Overgrown Path I, They chattered like swallows
String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters"
In the Mists
Pohadka (Fairy Tale)
Piano Sonata 1.X.1905, From the Street
String Quartet No. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata"
Moravian Folk Dances
On an Overgrown Path I, Our evening
On an Overgrown Path I, A blown-away leaf
On an Overgrown Path I, Come along with us
Performances by same musician(s)
Almeria, from Suite Iberia Book II
El Albaicín, from Suite Iberia Book III
Berceuse Op.57
Sheep May Safely Graze
Classical Music for the Internet Era™