Genius loci – Brno 2012

One important predecessor of the now traditional annual Brno musicological colloquiums, founded in 1966, was the International Musicological Congress Leoš Janáček and the Contemporary Music in 1958. Several musicologists from both parts of divided Europe, let alone America, Japan and South Africa, were able to meet. The term "Genius loci Brno" has to be defined not to get confused with mere journalistic praise of local musicians. The suitable definitions of genius can be found in Plato, Kant and Hegel. In search of the Genius loci in Brno, we probably all have Janáček in mind in the first place. His famous feuilleton Moje město (My City, 1927) is likely to be the best example. Important constituents of the genius loci of Brno during Janáček's lifetime included the cult of Saints Cyril and Methodius, folk songs and folk culture, Russian culture represented by the Russian Circle (1896–1915), but also the growing tension between the local Czechs and Germans. Many examples of both his and general situation, facts and life are to be found in his operas and other works. His way of looking at things is special. He is denying Kant's formalistic aesthetics.