The Gerontologist, Vol 30, Issue 5 632-635, Copyright © 1990 by The Gerontological Society of America
Leos Janacek and "the late style" in music
MB Beckerman
Department of Music, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130.
Czech composer Leos Janacek (1854-1928) represents one of the most
remarkable cases of creative energy in advancing years. Indeed, he is
remembered primarily for the works that he composed in the last decade of
his life. In this paper, Janacek's concept of aging is outlined in three
areas: the subject matter of his late operas, the composer's own comments
during this period, and the shape of his musical structures. The concept of
"the late style" is questioned, and the problems of applying models to
artistic creativity and productivity are noted.
