On an Overgrown Path
Encyclopedia
On an Overgrown Path is a cycle of thirteen piano pieces written by Leoš Janáček
and organized into two volumes.
n folk melodies in 1900. These melodies provided the basis for the first volume of "On an Overgrown Path." The compositions, intended for harmonium
, were first published in 1901. The cycle had grown to nine pieces in 1908, and was intended for piano instead of harmonium at that time. The definitive version of the first book was published in 1911. On September 30, 1911, Janáček published the first piece of the second series in the Lidové noviny
newspapers. The new series was created in its entirety around 1911. The complete second book was printed by the Hudební matice in 1942. The première of the work took place on January 6, 1905 at the Besední dům Hall in Brno
.
Book II
11. Andante
12. Allegretto - Presto
13. a. Più mosso
b. Vivo
c. Allegro
Less experimental than his later works, these miniatures are reminiscent of Schumann
and Grieg
, but with the composer's own unique style still evident. They are among the composer's most understated and pained utterances.
.
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...
and organized into two volumes.
Background
Janáček composed all his most important works for solo piano from 1900 to 1912. He probably began preparing his first series of MoraviaMoravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
n folk melodies in 1900. These melodies provided the basis for the first volume of "On an Overgrown Path." The compositions, intended for harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
, were first published in 1901. The cycle had grown to nine pieces in 1908, and was intended for piano instead of harmonium at that time. The definitive version of the first book was published in 1911. On September 30, 1911, Janáček published the first piece of the second series in the Lidové noviny
Lidové noviny
Lidové noviny is a daily newspaper published in the Czech Republic. It is the oldest Czech daily. Its profile is nowadays a national news daily covering political, economic, cultural and scientific affairs, mostly with a centre-right, conservative view...
newspapers. The new series was created in its entirety around 1911. The complete second book was printed by the Hudební matice in 1942. The première of the work took place on January 6, 1905 at the Besední dům Hall 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...
.
Structure
Book I- Naše večery - Our Evenings
- Lístek odvanutý - A Blown-Away leaf
- Pojďte s námi! - Come With Us!
- Frýdecká panna Maria - The Madonna of Frydek
- Štěbetaly jak laštovičky - They Chattered Like Swallows
- Nelze domluvit! - Words Fail!
- Dobrou noc! - Good Night!
- Tak neskonale úzko - Unutterable Anguish
- V pláči - In Tears
- Sýček neodletěl! - The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away!
Book II
11. Andante
12. Allegretto - Presto
13. a. Più mosso
b. Vivo
c. Allegro
Less experimental than his later works, these miniatures are reminiscent of Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
and Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
, but with the composer's own unique style still evident. They are among the composer's most understated and pained utterances.
Usage in Popular Culture
Some movements were used in the soundtrack for the movie The Unbearable Lightness of BeingThe Unbearable Lightness of Being (film)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being is a 1988 American film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Milan Kundera, published in 1984. Director Philip Kaufman and screenplay writer Jean-Claude Carrière show Czechoslovak artistic and intellectual life during the Prague Spring of the Communist...
.