Má vlast
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Má vlast ("My Fatherland") is a set of six symphonic poems by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.
In these works Smetana combined the symphonic poem form pioneered by Franz Liszt with the ideals of nationalistic music which were current in the late nineteenth century. Each poem depicts some aspect of the countryside, history, or legends of Bohemia.
Contents |
Vyšehrad
Image:Vysehrad as seen over the Vltava from Cisarska louka 732.jpg The first poem, Vyšehrad (The High Castle), composed from the end of September until the 18th of November, 1874 and premiered on the 14th of March, 1875, describes the castle of that name in Prague which was once the seat of Czech kings.
The poem begins with the sounds of the harp of the singer Luimir, and then crosses over into the tones of the castle's arsenal. In the next part, Smetana recalls the story of the castle, until a march where it collapses. Then the harp sounds again and the music reminds us again of the beauty of the castle. Thereafter we hear the sounds of the current of the River Moldau below, and yet again the sounds of the singer.
When this was written, Smetana was already fully deaf.
Vltava
Image:PragueCityscape.JPG Vltava, better known as The Moldau (the German name), was composed between the 20th of November and he 8th of December, 1874 and was premiered on the 4th of April, 1875.
In this piece, Smetana uses tone painting to evoke the sounds of one of Bohemia's great rivers. In his own words:
The composition describes the course of the Vltava, starting from the two small springs, the cold and warm Vltava, to the unification of both streams into a single current, the course of the Vltava through woods and meadows, through landscapes where a farmer's wedding is celebrated, the round dance of the mermaids in the night's moonshine: on the nearby rocks loom proud castles, palaces and ruins aloft. The Vltava swirls into the St. John's Rapids; then it widens and flows toward Prague, past the Vyšehrad, and then magestically vanishes into the distance, ending at the Elbe.
Šárka
The third poem was finished on the 20th of February, 1875, and is named for the Amazon queen Šárka who swore revenge on Libuše's murderers. In the fairy tale, she ties herself to a tree as bait and waits to be saved by Ctirad, a prince. They exchange words and he quickly falls in love with her. They are married soon after, and she pours mead as a gift to the men. As soon as they are asleep, Šárka sounds her horn to alert the other Amazon women and the poem ends with the scene of all of the men being murdered.
Z českých luhů a hájů
Smetana finished the composition of this piece, which is translated, "From Bohemia's Woods and Fields," on the 18th of October, 1875. The premiere was on the 10th of December, 1878. It depicts the beauty of the Czech countryside.
Tábor
This piece, which was finished on the 13th of December, 1878 and premiered on the 4th of January, 1880, is named for the city of Tábor, which is a city in the south of Bohemia which was important during the Hussite Wars.
Blaník
Blaník was finished on the 9th of March, 1879 and premiered on the 4th of January 1880. It is named for a mountain. The legend says that a huge army of knights led by St. Wenceslas sleep inside the mountain. The knights will awake and help the Motherland if it is under ultimate assault. According to legend ultimate assault means that at least four hostile armies attack.
External link
- Full score of the second poem Vltavacs:Má vlast
de:Mein Vaterland fr:Ma Vlast (Smetana) nl:Má vlast ja:わが祖国 (スメタナ) pt:Má Vlast