'On an overgrown path' by Leoš Janácek (1854-1928) For Flute / Alto Flute, Pedal Harp, Cello. Level: Advanced. A4 Set of performing parts and study score

Born in Moravia (Brno) the son of a school teacher, Leoš Janácek was a gifted child who showed musical ability from an early age.

The music he composed before 1900 gave no indication of the road he was about to take - leaving the path of the traditional, classic romantic structures he was using, he developed his own unique treatments of harmony and rhythm. Only Debussy had made a comparable move in composing. 

Leoš Janácek wrote: “The little pieces ‘On an overgrown path’ contain distance reminiscences. Those reminiscences are so dear to me that I do not think they will ever vanish. Whenever I have a moment to indulge myself undisturbed in these recollections, then I find another such little piece comes to mind. It is on an overgrown path. There is a love song on the path, too, as well as the bitterness of disappointment.”

Ernestine Stoop played these pieces in a ‘Balkan’ programme. The simple and honest beauty of each piece speaks for itself.

The choice of instruments was obvious: the flute and especially the hoarse sound of the alto-flute are perfect for most of the melodic parts, the violoncello is a beautiful instrument to colour the flute and take care of the harmonium part, the harp (like the piano) takes care of the harmony and rhythm most of the time. (the harp plays the beautiful chords-solo in the Frydek Madonna).

This edition is dedicated to Harrie Starreveld, flutist and Eduard van Regteren Altena, cellist. They have been the ideal musicians to help me improve the arrangement.

HarpDuo Ravel:
From left to right:
Harrie Starreveld, Ernestine Stoop, Eduard van Regteren Altena
Photograph October 2015