Programme notes:

Tereza Jaďuďová (b. 2001)
2 Songs, Op. 44
Written in 2020

Setting poetry by Janko Kráľ—one of the most revolutionary voices of the Slovak Štúrovci movement—Jaďuďová’s 2 Songs bring together her sensitivity to text with a deep respect for the rhythm and sonority of the Slovak language. The cycle’s subtitle, “There is beauty in simplicity,” reflects both the directness of Kráľ’s verse and the clarity of her musical setting.

I.
Marked Lento doloroso, the first song unfolds in a lamenting tone, the piano providing a steady, understated support to the vocal line. The music emphasises the natural rise and fall of the text, with expressive intensity growing towards moments of emotional release before subsiding into a restrained close.

II.
Opening Andante sostenuto, the second song draws a vivid image of longing and captivity. Here the voice moves in long, arching phrases, supported by sustained piano harmonies. As the piece develops, moments of agitation (molto agitato) are contrasted with passages of tranquillo, mirroring the text’s oscillation between unrest and acceptance.