Leos Janacek almost seventy years old characterised the wind sextet he had just finished as 'a kind of memory of youth' in a letter to Kamila Stösslová. The suite Youth was written in the summer of 1924 prompted by the composer's need to take stock on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Janacek also heard the Parisian ensemble Societe moderne des instruments a vent several times in Salzburg and Brno. He expanded the classic quintet scoring by the addition of a bass clarinet.Janacek referred to an earlier part of his life in this work not only by quoting a theme from March of the Blue Boys but particularly through his general freshness ofexpression astute humour and use of form which adhered to the classical style.The piece was enthusiastically received by both critics and the public and appeared in print as early as 1925 issued by the Prague publisher Hudebni matice.Wind sextet in the classical styleUrtext based on the Critical Complete Edition of the Works of Leos JanacekNew foreword by Jiri Zahradka (Cz/Eng/Ger)

These three short ‘pictures’ were inspired by several visits to a small part of the American East Coast an area which provides great extremes in the geography and the people.'Shelter Island' is a small island situated almost at the end of Long Island a few hours drive east of New York. In the summer it becomes a crowded tourist trap but in the winter it is gloriously deserted and bravely faces the onslaught of the turbulent Atlantic shrouded in sea mists and driving rain. In upstate New York lie 'The Catskills' Mountains an extraordinary combination of tranquillity and power peace and majesty. Once seen they call you back again and again.New York - or to be more precise Manhattan. For anyone who is familiar with this bizarre and wonderful city this ‘picture’ needs no explanation. For those not yet hooked here is a small foretaste of things to come!