Janáček - Sinfonietta [Score]

Sir Mark Elder, conductor
Hallé Orchestra
2011 BBC Proms

00:00 - I. Allegretto — Allegro maestoso (Fanfare)
02:20 - II. Andante — Allegretto (The Castle, Brno)
08:52 - III. Moderato (The Queen's Monastery, Brno)
14:33 - IV. Allegretto (The Street Leading to the Castle)
17:47 - V. Andante con moto (The Town Hall, Brno)

The Sinfonietta is a very expressive and festive, late work for large orchestra (of which 25 are brass players). It is dedicated "To the Czechoslovak Armed Forces" and Janáček said it was intended to express "contemporary free man, his spiritual beauty and joy, his strength, courage and determination to fight for victory." It started by Janáček listening to a brass band, becoming inspired to write some fanfares of his own. When the organisers of the Sokol Gymnastic Festival approached him for a commission, he developed the material into the Sinfonietta. He later dropped the word military.