In the summer of 1925, Janacek began an unusual work which, like the woodwind composition Mladi, demonstrates the elderly composer's empathy with the young, and in this instance especially, with children: his setting of Rikadla (Nursery Rhymes) for chamber choir and instrumental group. Janacek was inspired to the composition of these pieces by some nonsense verses featured on the children's page of the Lidove noviny a Czech newspaper, accompanied by drawings by Josef Lada. (Similarly, The Cunning Little Vixen had its origins in a comic strip).
Behind the apparent simplicity and nonsense of these nursery rhymes something vaguely sinister lurks, a world of innocence and nightmares, superstition and rural lifestyle, the personification of farmyard animals and morbid delight in the woeful fate of others. One is left with the feeling of having made more than a mere nostalgic excursion into the composer's childhood.
In 1925 Janacek set only eight of these rhymes for three mezzo-soprano voices, clarinet and piano; but in 1927 he added ten more, rescoring the work for a chamber choir of nine singers and an ensemble of nine players. The rhymes are based on Czech, Moravian and Transcarpathian folk texts. Witty and brilliantly scored, the set is framed by an introduction and a postlude. Janacek's extraordinary sense of rhythm and unique sense of humour are evident everywhere: each of these little pieces is a delight.

II THE SUGAR BEET'S WEDDING

The sugar beet was getting wed,
the celery played the fife,
the carrot was a-dancing
and the horse-radish fixed it all up,
put the rhymes together.
Tum-ty, tum-ty ... tiddledee turn.

III NOTHING IS BETTER THAN SPRINGTIME

Nothing better than springtime,
green grows the grass in the field,
nanny-goat lies at the edge,
she's never against a rest.

IV MOLE COMES CRAWLING

Mole comes crawling along the bounds,
measuring up the meadow;
Hamster behind him with a barrow of sacks
says he's going to grind some flour.

V
CHARLIE WENT ON A RIDE TO HELL

Charlie went on a ride to hell
on a white horse, the Devil chasing him.
Didn't know the way, bought himself bagpipes.
Still didn't know, bought a pair' of tongs.
Still knew nowt, bought himself a key.

VI TROUSERS IN RAGS

Trousers in rags,
the wind blows through them,
I'll sew them up,
Spider spins the thread.

VII FRANK THE KNACKER'S SON

Frank the knacker's son played his bass fiddle
Behind the old cow's tail.
The old cow was delighted
to have Frank for a pal.

VIII THAT DOG OF OURS, THAT DOG OF OURS...

That dog of ours, that dog of ours,
he's broken his tail;
in his trusting way
he stuck it through the fence;
that dog of ours, that dog of ours
has broken his tail.

IX I PREACH, I PREACH YOU THIS SERMON

I preach, I preach you this sermon,
four cats tied together,
the fifth was a dog who climbed in the oven
and stole a slice of toast,
ran across the square with it;
the Cow met him there,
that was his Mum;
the Bullock met him,
that was his Dad;
the Calf met him,
that was his Uncle;
the Colt met him,
that was his Grandpa;
the little Goat met him,
that was his Grandma.