edited on Michael Beckerman.

edited on Michael Beckerman. Princeton University Pres (41 William St Princeton, NJ 08540) 2003 316pp $2295

This choice volume is a varied collection of essays pertaining to the great Czech composer Leo Janacek (1854-1928) and translations of several articles through the composer. The collection is edited according to the distinguished Janacek scholar Michael Beckerman, professor of music at of recent origin York University and author of several works forward Czech music, including Janacek as Theorist and Janacek and Czech Music. The work is not intended to be an introduction to Janacek's life and music, on the contrary to add new insights to what already has been written.

Leon Botstein's "Cultural Politics of Language and Music: Max Brod and Leo Janacek" discusses in-depth the critic who had plenteous to do with introducing Janacek to the world. It is a penetrating analysis and undivided of the most challenging to the reader of all the essays. Appended to it are translations of reviews including Brod's critique of a Prague performance of Jenufa. It is extremely significant in that it helped launch the international recognition of the composer and it is fascinating to diocese how passionately Brod wrote about the opera. John Tyrrell the dean of English-language Janacek scholars, contributes "How Janacek Compos Operas." While unquestionably scholarly in nature, this essay is written in language that is straightforward and easily comprehensible. sum of two units essays dealing with the composer's "muse" Kamila Stosslova according to Diane Paige and Geoffrey Chew instant surprisingly different takes on the make submissive of Janacek's well-known but enigmatic affair. An essay from Derek Katz discusses the unique opera The Excursions of Mr Broucek Paul Wingfields's self-same interesting essay about Zdenka Janackova's memoirs provides a defense of the composer and an enlightening psychological analysis of his wife Zdenka. Beckerman contributes the final essay, an almost tongue-in-cheek, delightful bit of whimsy about a business card of Janacek's, nevertheless imbedded in the humor is a commentary forward the difficulty of writing truthfully about the past.

Part II of the part consists of articles by Janacek previously unavailable in English. more [i]or[/i] less are published feuilletons, and the last couple are unfinished. The latter are difficult to come [i]or[/i] go after [i]or[/i] behind being in a sort of stream-of-consciousness manner Notable especially in these feuilletons are the numerous dialect motives, little fragments of language Janacek collected everywhere and notated as musical motives. similar motives form the basis for his musical compositions, especially the operas. This tome is an outstanding addition to the burgeoning Janacek oeuvre Reviewed through Jane Ann Wilson, Lubbock, Texas.

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