Janacek Piano Works

[Mandryka]

Here's a very good recording of book 1 -- Palenicek's first recording, 1943. An excellent transfer to boot!

https://open.spotify.com/album/6MpclqEmYZuAYdXSuEwr8D

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8604474--jana-ek-sinfonietta-lettres-intimes-sonate-pour-violon-sur-un-sentier-broussailleux-les

[AnotherSpin]

Here's a very good recording of book 1 -- Palenicek's first recording, 1943. An excellent transfer to boot!

https://open.spotify.com/album/6MpclqEmYZuAYdXSuEwr8D

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8604474--jana-ek-sinfonietta-lettres-intimes-sonate-pour-violon-sur-un-sentier-broussailleux-les

Palenicek is good, thanks for the tip!

[Holden]

I've heard Kvapil but wouldn't know which one.

[Mandryka]

I remember meeting a school music teacher and we got to discuss pianists. He said his favourite living pianist was Lief Ove Andsnes, and went on to say that he was an original, he thinks everything through from scratch and comes up with things which sound like no-one else.

That comment came back to me listening to his Overgrown Path.

[Brian]

Since my copy of that album is arriving in an hour or two, I hope you do find it an original!

I confess to bristling when an Overgrown Path traveler omits the short second series...

[Mandryka]

Since my copy of that album is arriving in an hour or two, I hope you do find it an original!

I confess to bristling when an Overgrown Path traveler omits the short second series...

If you don't just love it I'll eat my hat.


Yesterday I decided to listen to a bunch if Unutterable Anguishes to see if any sounded like unutterable anguish - that's how I found Andsnes!

Just speaking totally subjectively, Bk 1 sounds like a real cycle to me, rather than a random collection -the order matters, it's coherent.

[Luke]

Just speaking totally subjectively, Bk 1 sounds like a real cycle to me, rather than a random collection -the order matters, it's coherent.

Definitely. It darkens and deepens as it progresses; it's a series of domestic visions and memories which end with Death. One can't help but hear it as haunted by thoughts of the life, illness and death of his beloved daughter Olga.