The Wandering of a Little Soul
Encyclopedia
The Wandering of a Little Soul (Putování dušičky) is a violin concerto
by the Czech composer
Leoš Janáček
. The work is also known in English as "Pilgrimage of a Little Soul", "Pilgrimage of a Dear Soul" or simply as "Pilgrimage of the Soul". Nevertheless, the English title of the complete critical edition is "The Wandering of a Little Soul".
In 1927 Janáček abandoned the idea of the concerto and used some of its material in the opera From the House of the Dead
, particularly in the suite. In 1928, the year of his death, Janáček composed also incidental music to Schluck und Jau, a play by the German
dramatist Gerhart Hauptmann
, which contains violin solos closely related to motives known from The Wandering of a Little Soul.
Miloš Štědroň and Leoš Faltus reconstructed the composition in 1988. The first performance took place on September 29, 1988 in the Janáček Theatre
in Brno
, with Jan Stanovský on violin, Petr Vronský
conducted the State Philharmonic of Brno
.
Even though the concerto remained unfinished, it contains several interesting examples of Janáček’s mature style.
Violin concerto
A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin and instrumental ensemble, customarily orchestra. Such works have been written since the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up through the present day...
by the Czech composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janácek
Leoš Janáček was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher. He was inspired by Moravian and all Slavic folk music to create an original, modern musical style. Until 1895 he devoted himself mainly to folkloristic research and his early musical output was influenced by...
. The work is also known in English as "Pilgrimage of a Little Soul", "Pilgrimage of a Dear Soul" or simply as "Pilgrimage of the Soul". Nevertheless, the English title of the complete critical edition is "The Wandering of a Little Soul".
Background
Janáček started to write the concerto in 1926, during his visit to England. The work remained unfinished, and today there are three sources containing the body of the composition. None of the manuscripts is dated. The sketched material of the concerto is concentrated in one movement only (12-15 min. duration). The score is has a few remarks: p. 29 - inscription "in a human being", p. 30 - "the dear soul inborn in every human being", p. 40 - "eagle", p. 49 - "without the soul until the end", p. 64 - "instruments die out".In 1927 Janáček abandoned the idea of the concerto and used some of its material in the opera From the House of the Dead
From the House of the Dead
From the House of the Dead is an opera by Leoš Janáček, in three acts. The libretto was translated and adapted by the composer from the novel by Dostoyevsky...
, particularly in the suite. In 1928, the year of his death, Janáček composed also incidental music to Schluck und Jau, a play by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
dramatist Gerhart Hauptmann
Gerhart Hauptmann
Gerhart Hauptmann was a German dramatist and novelist who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1912.-Life and work:...
, which contains violin solos closely related to motives known from The Wandering of a Little Soul.
Miloš Štědroň and Leoš Faltus reconstructed the composition in 1988. The first performance took place on September 29, 1988 in the Janáček Theatre
Janáček Theatre
Janáček Theatre is a theatre situated in the city of Brno, Czech Republic. It is a part of the National Theatre in Brno. It was built from 1960 to 1965, and opened in October 1965...
in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, with Jan Stanovský on violin, Petr Vronský
Petr Vronský
-External links:**...
conducted the State Philharmonic of Brno
Brno Philharmonic Orchestra
Brno Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Brno, the Czech Republic. Its predecessor was the Czech Symphony Orchestra, dating from the 1870's. The current Brno Philharmonic was formed in 1956 with the merger of the Radio Orchestra and the Brno Region Symphony Orchestra, with Břetislav...
.
Even though the concerto remained unfinished, it contains several interesting examples of Janáček’s mature style.
Selected Recordings
- Janáček: Sinfonietta, Violin Concerto... Supraphon 1992. SU 3888-2 (Ivan Ženatý - violin)
- Janáček: Wandering of the Little Soul, Sinfonietta... Supraphon 1989. 11 1965-2 031 (Josef SukJosef Suk (violinist)Josef Suk was a Czech violinist, violist, chamber musician and conductor, the grandson of Josef Suk, the composer and violinist, and great-grandson of Antonín Dvořák. In his home country he carried the title of National Artist....
- violin)