Q VOX (Janáček Brno 2024)

ABOUT

The morning concert of the choirs of Pavel Křížkovský, Leoš Janáček and their followers will be performed in the popular form of vocal quartets in the authentic place of the refectory of the Old Brno Monastery, where Křížkovský lived and worked and where the young Leoš Janáček also spent part of his childhood.

Compositions for male voices and male vocal quartet are an integral part of Leoš Janáček’s oeuvre. His teacher Pavel Křížkovský was one of his first great role models. In this compositional circle, he influenced young Janáček not only musically, but also in his choice of topics and texts dealing with social themes from the field of folk creativity. Both were also avid collectors of folk songs and lyrics, which they adapted for multi-voice compositions or were inspired by them in their own works. The concert programme is focused on military and love songs. The concert will conclude with a composition by Janáček’s long-time friend Antonín Dvořák and pieces by two composers and choirmasters, Oldřich Halma and Zdeněk Kaňák, who further promoted Janáček’s legacy and built on his love of folklore in their work. The last composition is an arrangement of a Moravian folk song by former Q VOX member Martin Šujan, who has written it directly for the ensemble.

Jiří Zahrádka

Programme

Leoš Janáček: Ploughing, JWIV/1

Pavel Křížkovský: The Drowned Maiden

Pavel Křížkovský: The Recruit’s Prayer

Leoš Janáček: When I Go to That War, My Dear!, JW IV/32-6

Leoš Janáček: In That Great Wide Field, JW IV/37-2

Leoš Janáček: I Went Through the Town, JW IV/

Leoš Janáček: The Soldier’s Lot, JW IV/17-3

Leoš Janáček: Why Guelder Rose, JW IV/37-3

Pavel Křížkovský: Song of Parting

Leoš Janáček: Oh, Love, JW IV/17-2

Leoš Janáček: True Love, JW IV/8

Leoš Janáček: I Wonder at my Beloved, JW IV/ 5

Leoš Janáček: A Drowned Wreath, JW IV/6

Leoš Janáček: In The Pine Tree, JW IV/11

Leoš Janáček: Twilight Witch, JW IV/28-3

Antonín Dvořák: Feast, Op. 27, B87(5)

Oldřich Halma: Violins Play for Me

Cast

Tenor: Petr Julíček

Tenor/baritone: Tomáš Badura

Baritone: Tomáš Krejčí

Bass: Pavel Maška