Janacek: Sinfonietta, Ballad Of Blanek, Fiddler, Taras Bulba Composer: Leos Jan�cek Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis / Leos Jan�cek (1854-1928) is regarded as the greatest Czech composer of the early twentieth century. In his early works, which included the opera S�rka (1888), and numerous vocal and instrumental works, Jan�cek followed a traditional, Romantic idiom, typical of late nineteenth century music. Having completed S�rka, however, Jan�cek immersed himself in the folk music of his native Moravia, gradually developing an original compositional style. Eschewing regular metrical phrasing, Jan�cek developed a declamatory method of setting the voice that follows the natural rhythmic patterns of the Czech language. Characteristically, Jan�cek allowed these patterns to inform the music itself. In addition, Jan�cek's harmonies, forms and orchestration are highly idiosyncratic. His music favors repetitive patterns, often set in stark contrast to longer, more lyrical, lines, or large blocks of sound.