Mr. Peabody Says:
This is music for a wind ensemble until the strings enter, and not before the 2nd movement. The writing is absolutely brilliant. That’s why there are two euphoniums, and the parts for trumpets and trombones are spectacular. Note that the composer was 72 when he wrote this. I found this looking for more Bělohlávek recordings.
Jiří Bělohlávek
Movements:
- Allegretto — Allegro maestoso (Fanfare)
- Andante — Allegretto (The Castle, Brno)
- Moderato (The Queen’s Monastery, Brno)
- Allegretto (The Street Leading to the Castle)
- Andante con moto (The Town Hall, Brno)
Instruments:
- Piccolo, 4 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English horn, Clarinet in Eb, 2 Clarinets in Bb,
Bass clarinet, 2 Bassoons - 4 Horns in F, 9 Trumpets in C*,3 Trumpets in F,2 Bass trumpets*, 4 Trombones,
2 Euphoniums , Tuba - Percussion, 2 Timpani, Cymbals, Chimes,
- Strings
- Harp
The name:
The Sinfonietta (subtitled “Military Sinfonietta” or “Sokol Festival”) from 1926 is a late work for large orchestra (of which 25 are brass players) It is dedicated “To the Czechoslovak Army”.
Listening to a brass band:
Janáček was listening to a brass band and decided to write 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.
His writing for brass is absolutely brilliant. This man really understood orchestration, so the sounds are spectacular.
Brass and percussion:
The first movement is scored only for brass and percussion.In the fourth movement, Janáček celebrates the newly liberated Czechoslovakia with a joyous trumpet fanfare.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
This work was also used by “Emerson, Lake & Palmer” for their piece entitled “Knife-Edge”.