Composer

:

Leos Janácek

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1898

Publication Date

:

1899

First Performance

:

Dec 18, 1898

Average_duration

:

16:42

Movement_count

:

13

Movement ....

'Ukvalská lidová poezie v písních, JW 5/4' is a song cycle composed by the Czech composer Leos Janácek. The cycle is based on folk poetry from the region of Ukval in Moravia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. The cycle was composed in 1901 and premiered in 1902 in Brno, Czech Republic. The cycle consists of eight movements, each of which is based on a different folk poem. The poems are sung in the original Moravian dialect, and the music is written in a style that reflects the rhythms and melodies of the folk songs. The cycle is scored for voice and piano, and the piano part is written in a way that imitates the sound of the traditional Moravian stringed instrument, the dulcimer. The first movement, 'Kdyz mne stara matka', is a lullaby that features a gentle, rocking rhythm and a simple melody. The second movement, 'Slysel jsem jednou zvoncek zvonit', is a humorous song about a man who is trying to impress a woman by pretending to be a wealthy landowner. The third movement, 'Och, Janicku, Janicku', is a love song that features a soaring melody and a passionate vocal line. The fourth movement, 'Vyletela holubicka', is a mournful song about a dove that has flown away, leaving its mate behind. The fifth movement, 'Coz ta naše kráva', is a humorous song about a cow that has wandered into a neighbor's field and is eating their crops. The sixth movement, 'Kdyz sem byl maly', is a nostalgic song about the joys of childhood. The seventh movement, 'Mamičko, máměnko', is a tender song in which a child asks their mother to sing them a lullaby. The final movement, 'Ach, synku, synku', is a mournful song in which a mother laments the loss of her son. Overall, 'Ukvalská lidová poezie v písních, JW 5/4' is a beautiful and evocative cycle that captures the spirit of the Moravian folk tradition. Janácek's use of the Moravian dialect and his incorporation of traditional folk melodies and rhythms make this cycle a unique and important contribution to the Czech musical canon.

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