String Quartet No. 2 (Janáček)

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Leoš Janáček's String Quartet No. 2, "Intimate Letters", was written in 1928. It consists of four movements:

1. Andante
2. Adagio
3. Moderato
4. Allegro

The "Intimate Letters" quartet was the second to be composed after a request from the Bohemian Quartet who, in 1923, requested Janáček to compose two string quartets for them. Unusually for a classical work, the nickname "Intimate Letters" ("Listy důvěrné" in Czech) was given by the composer, as it was inspired by his long and spiritual friendship with Kamila Stösslová, a married woman 38 years his junior. The composition was intended to reflect the character of their relationship as revealed in more than 700 letters they exchanged with each other:

"You stand behind every note, you, living, forceful, loving. The fragrance of your body, the glow of your kisses – no, really of mine. Those notes of mine kiss all of you. They call for you passionately..."

The viola assumes a prominent role throughout the composition, as this instrument is intended to personify Kamila. Indeed, in the second movement the composer contemplates the vision of Kamila giving birth to a son.

The work is essentially tonal albeit not in the traditional sense. For example, the work closes with six D-flat major chords (Janáček's favourite chord), but with the added dissonance of an E-flat.

It is considered by most to be Janáček's finest chamber work^{[citation needed]}.