Great Composers: Leoš Janáček

A look at a unique Czech.
This was requested by KZbinrs Erik Satie, Quicksilverfan69, RandoMoldova, and Sean Ramsdell. See all requests at www.lentovivace....
----------
Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
----------
Music:
Leoš Janáček: Mládí, performed by the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/y7...
Video of conductor Jakub Hrůša discussing Leoš Janáček: uciNH5hCCvI
Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
Boris Blank and Dieter Meier: Oh Yeah [original upload: 6jJkdRaa04g]
Leoš Janáček: On an Overgrown Path, mvt. 1, performed by Chris Breemer
[free recording courtesy pianosociety.com]
----------
Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
Facebook:
/ classicalnerd
----------
All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@ClassicalNerd]

There are currently more requests for Franz Schubert, but at the time I put this video into production, Janáček led the request pool, and it was too late for me to switch gears to Schubert.

[@richpeeps515]

I thought that Bedrich Smetana was truly the dubbed "the father of Czech music"?

[@jansmejkal6846]

I happen to be czech as well, and I find your attention to detail remarkable. It truly is pornounced the way you pronounced it, I am aware of no youtuber focusing on this topic making this much effort to not mispronounce! It is truly apreciated, we can get a bit jumpy when it comes to the portrayal of our country abroad. Keep up the good work!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Thank you! I try my best to get my pronunciations as correct as possible. It's not always easy since American English doesn't have an especially wide range of phonemes when compared to some other languages ...

[@morrigambist]

I was pleased to know that Janacek went to Russia. I expect he heard Boris Godunov there, since that work's "glukho" is the derivation of the melodic line from the spoken language, as in so many of Janacek's works. Kamila was with Janacek when he died. I call that devotion, even without romantic love.

[@rexdxiv]

My favorite composer!

[@edkollert8279]

One “well actually” moment, in Czech the stress is *always* on first syllable, but the thing is 1. stresses/accents are weak, and 2. in Czech length of vowels and stress are independent. So while the stress is still on first syllable, the second syllable is actually long (that’s why á in Janáček; ’ above vowels in Czech indicate long vowels) causing it to almost sound like the second syllable is the stressed one… 0:30 EDIT: of course also the stress patterns in the eastern dialects of Czech he spoke is a bit different… (as others here in comments pointed out)

[@ferdinandcomposer4235]

Every time I want to learn about a composer I come to you first. Thank you for these wonderful videos.

[@doogalloonni]

I've always resonated with Janáček. Such a 'tragic' figure in many ways. Thanks to all your insightful information, (and Jim's) I now see even greater similarities, which I'm not so sure how grateful I might be for.... TY

[@zeadsi]

Great vid, glad I found this channel. I have a version of Janacek's Little Vixen where the 3 acts weren't chopped to ribbons for the studio release. One of my fav LPs.

[@Quicksilverfan69]

Ah yes, awesome video! Good ol' Leos, one of my favourites alongside Bartok, highly original compositions imo.

[@robertberger4203]

Actually, the different stress in Janacek's name is because he was from a region of northern Moravia close to the Polish border , and Polish has stress on the next to last syllable . His dialect had Polish stress patterns .

[@karelkieslich6772]

In fact, the “stress” in Czech is always on the first wovel, including in Janáček’s name. What you all perceive as stress on the second syllable is not actually a stress but a long vowel (in Czech, vowels can be “long”), which sounds a bit like stress. The long vowel is marked by the ‘ sign, the same sign as the French accent aigu, and thanks to this Janáček’s name would be pronounced the same way in all parts of the Czech lands, including in the standard Czech. So it’s not about him being from Moravia or Silesia, but because of the “accent”/long vowel.

[@brendaboykin3281]

YOU ARE WONDERFUL, delightful and informative!!! 🌹🌹🌹

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thank you, Thomas🌹🌹🌹

[@Mackeson3]

Another great 20th century Czech composer worth a video l think, Bohuslav Martinu.

[@ClassicalNerd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWHGmKt4lp6VnLs

[@Mackeson3]

@@ClassicalNerd Thank you!

[@zacharydetrick7428]

you made me wait sooooooooo long for that intro

[@zacharydetrick7428]

you're winner!

[@tsubiku8565]

Great video and pronunciation. Just a little correction. The stress is actually on the first syllable, but in czech it doesn't really matter, because it's so weak (probably why you don't hear it). The comma on the á means you say the a longer, imagine it like aa, it doesn't mean stress. As for the moravian thing, there are a lot of regional dialects in czech language and they don't follow any rules like that (it's just weird). Also again in czech the stress is generally on the first syllable but really has no importance, just don't bother with it (we don't :D). But again, great video, I did learn a lot from it. :)

[@ClassicalNerd]

Good to know! I was just glad I could find a pronunciation from an actual Czech person; for more obscure composers, I often have to take educated guesses in unfamiliar languages. (And there were a _number_ of takes where I said it wrong, because I've heard it mispronounced all my life!)

[@tsubiku8565]

@@ClassicalNerd I totally understand and I really appreciate you doing this. Those little details are what's great about you. And I've learned a lot even though I'm Czech myself so thank you! :)

[@Mannainthemoon]

I know he's not a composer but could you do a video about William Primrose? Love your channel and all your videos, thanks!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Primrose has been added to the request pool: www.lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@Mannainthemoon]

Thank you!!!!!

[@qwaqwa1960]

What's that crazy recorder/clarinet thing at the bottom-right of the screen?

[@ClassicalNerd]

It's a cheap recorder that I apparently played when I was in kindergarten.

[@qwaqwa1960]

Darn...I was hoping for something exotic - perhaps from the Jetsons' universe :-}

[@taurus_x_cz]

As a Czech native, I have to say that Janáček is pronounced with stress on the first syllable. The á is long but still isn't stressed. It might be different in Moravia but Standard Czech is clear about stress :) Probably complicated, I know. But thanks a lot for the video!

[@ClassicalNerd]

I was just trying to copy the pronunciation from the Czech conductor in the video I found. Perhaps I misheard the long “á” as a stressed syllable when it's really just longer? Hard to say.

[@stephenfegely]

TY

[@jorgejapiano]

Genius, thanks!

[@neo-eclesiastul9386]

Make please a video about Zoltan Kodaly

[@ClassicalNerd]

Due to the number of requests I receive, I've capped the number of requests I can get from any individual at five. You currently have six requests active in the pool, which I've grandfathered in-but I can't allow any more right now. Sorry!

[@Fiik-guitarist]

Kostelnicka means churchwoman. I'm from czech, iam rehearsal pianist for acting conservatory and and every student must sing some of his Moravian songs :D it is usually about being shot in habsburgs vs someone war, being in love with someone who is unfaithful but pretty, but also about ontoligical questions or if the tree in forest is product of Jesus or just mother nature

[@정건-o1e]

You need more subs and views.

[@zacharydetrick7428]

this channel could get him a lecturing job anywhere if he wants it

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

건빵 me too

[@neo-eclesiastul9386]

it took you 40 seconds to justify your pronouncing totally worth it

[@jstov]

Nice! Your videos are getting better. Keep it up!!!

[@nigelhaywood9753]

You're very funny. Classical music needs that!

[@BuronYoung]

May someone explains what big daddy means？ I didn't really get that. 😂

[@sebastianzaczek]

0:53 so who is Jim?

[@ClassicalNerd]

On all of Stephen Colbert's late-night shows, whenever he has a clip to show, he references an unseen "Jim," so I decided to do the same.

[@doogalloonni]

@@ClassicalNerd Jim appreciates that.

[@seanramsdell4172]

Have you seen the animated adaptation of The Cunning Little Vixen?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Can't say I have.

[@seanramsdell4172]

@@ClassicalNerd kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6vQhIGHfq12a7M

[@someopinion2846]

Janacek's operas are classical rap music.

[@pavelopsitos3949]

🌄♥

[@georgealderson4424]

Interesting as usual though perhaps spoilt by a bit too much humour in this video