Volume / Series: BÄRENREITER URTEXT

Editor: Faltus, Leos / Stedron, Milos

Language: Czech, English, German

Pages: 62

Publisher: Barenreiter

Janácek's 2nd String Quartet, "Intimate Letters," is considered a centerpiece of modern string quartet literature. It was written during the last year of the composer's life, between January 29 and February 19, 1928, inspired by the extraordinary love of the elderly Janácek for Kamila Stösslová. The Moravian Quartet was dedicated to this impressive work, and Janácek attended a total of three of their rehearsals in May and June 1928. This had various consequences, including the abandonment of his original idea to use a viola d'amore. After Janácek's unexpected death (August 12, 1928), the uncertain birth of the work became the greatest problem of the "Intimate Letters": the remaining copies had not been definitively authorized.

The editors of this new edition return to Janácek's autograph drafts as the main and most reliable source.