Writing techniques in the 3rd movement of Leoš Janáček’s Sinfonietta
Writing techniques in the 3rd movement of Leoš Janáček’s Sinfonietta

Summary/Abstract: Compared to the previous two movements of the Sinfonietta, in the 3rd movement Leoš Janáček impregnates listeners’ conscience with a completely unexpected instrumental colour in the military, heroic context of the work, i.e. the very special timbre of the viola d’amore. This study features a few historical references focusing first of all on the Phanariot Alexandru Ipsilanti, then on a pair of princely lovers from the Middle Ages. We will see how these characters are linked to the name, which Janáček attributes to the movement, i.e. Králové klášter (The Queen’s monastery), but also to images from the composer’s childhood. Beside the mentioned directions, the musicological research will enter the depths of the compositional laboratory in order to emphasise the melodic inspiration and the architectural structure of the 3rd movement of the Sinfonietta.

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