Janáček: Sinfonietta

Introduction

The Sinfonietta (subtitled “Military Sinfonietta” or “Sokol Festival”) is a very expressive and festive, late work for large orchestra (of which 25 are brass players) by the Czech composer Leoš Janáček. It is dedicated “To the Czechoslovak Army” 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. Typical performance duration is 20–25 minutes.

Structure

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

• I. Allegretto — Allegro maestoso (Fanfare)
• II. Andante — Allegretto (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 fanfare. 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.

Arrangements

The work was transcribed for symphonic wind ensemble by Don Patterson in 1994. This work was also used by the progressive rock band "Emerson, Lake and Palmer" for their piece entitled "Knife-Edge"

1. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: brass ensemble
   • arrangement by: Rolf Smedwig
   • performed by: Empire Brass
2. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: brass band
   • arrangement by: Steven Hamstra
   • performed by: Brass Band De Wâldsang, co Rieks van der Velde
3. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: brass sextet
   • arrangement by: František Jílek
   • performed by: Brno Czech Brass Sextet
4. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: wind orchestra
   • arrangement by: Karel Bělohoubek
   • performed by: Czech Army Central Band, co Vladimír Válek
5. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: wind orchestra
   • arrangement by: Hynek Sluka
   • performed by: Prague Castle Guard and Police Wind Orchestra, co Miroslav Hanzal
6. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: wind ensemble
   • arrangement by: Merlin Patterson
   • performed by: University of Houston Wind Ensemble, co Eddie Green
7. Arrangement suitable for: orchestra
   • arrangement for: organ
   • arrangement by: Josh Perschbacher
   • performed by: org Josh Perschbacher