This book investigates the spectrum of meaning inherent in six orchestral works by Leö Janá¿ek. It codifies his compositional style, first through a thorough examination of its origins in folk music and speech-melody, then in discussions of the features of its melody and motivic techniques. His harmonic style and multiple organizations of tonality are examined in rich detail. The analysis section consists of the examination of each musical work¿s musical elements, its affective and programmatic associations, as well as four narrative codes through which the listener discovers further meaning in the work: the hermeneutic code (which governs enigmas), the semic code of musical motives, the proairetic (formal) code, and the referential code (which draws on analogous passages from other pieces of music).

John K. Novak is a music theorist and performer whose research concerns Western music in the first quarter of the twentieth century. His principal interest is the Czech composer Leoš Janá¿ek. Novak teaches at Northern Illinois University. His other music interests include Czech song in the state of Texas.

Contents: LeoS Janácek - Czech music - Moravian folk music - Speech-melody - The Fiddler's Child - Taras Bulba - The Ballad of Blaník - Sinfonetta - The Danube Symphony - Violin Concerto - «Wanderings of a Soul» - Czech ethnomusicology - Quartal harmony - Whole-tone - Octatonisim - Roland Barthes - S/Z - Suspended tonality - Floating tonality - Affect - Narrative - Semiology.