It is
about 13 minutes long
, and is in the key of E minor. In this piece, Smetana uses tone painting to evoke the sounds of one of Bohemia’s great rivers.
How many movements does The Moldau have?
They embraced it and the rest of Má vlast as a sort of patriotic symphonic national anthem. Research suggests this was Smetana’s intent as well. Today, it has achieved the most success of all of the
six movements
. Hear the Parker Symphony Orchestra perform The Moldau and other nature-inspired works on May 5, 2017.
When was Ma Vlast composed?
In ”Má vlast,” Smetana
wanted to celebrate his Czech homeland by composing music that depicted the legends, stories, and landscapes of Bohemia
.
Why was The Moldau banned?
After the Nazis occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, many Czech symphony orchestras started to play ‘The Moldau’ as a sign of protest to the occupation. As a consequence, in an attempt to break the spirit of independence and resistance among the people,
Nazis banned the performance of the symphonic poem
.
Is The Moldau a river?
Vltava River, German Moldau, river, the longest in the Czech Republic, flowing 270 miles (435 km). Its drainage basin is 10,847 square miles (28,093 square km). The river rises in southwestern Bohemia from two headstreams in the Bohemian Forest, the Teplá Vltava and the Studená Vltava.
Is Ma Vlast a symphony?
Má vlast (Czech pronunciation: [maː vlast], meaning “My homeland”) is a set of
six symphonic poems
composed between 1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. … Each poem depicts some aspect of the countryside, history, or legends of Bohemia.
What genre is Ma Vlast?
The Moldau
What older forms of music have been used as inspiration for The Moldau?
Smetana claimed to have created the Czech musical style. And unlike many other nationalistic composers, he did not limit his inspiration to
indigenous folk music
. Besides Liszt, he admired Chopin, Berlioz, Verdi, and Gounod among his non-German influences.
Why was The Moldau written?
Czech composer Bed ̆rich Smetana (BED-rick SMET–ah-na) was inspired to
write The Moldau by nature, memories of his personal adventures
, and a deep love for his country. The work is named after an actual river that runs from a mountainside, through the Czech countryside, and into the city of Prague.
Why did Bedrich Smetana composed The Moldau?
Smetana, like any patriotic Czech citizen, was not happy with the unfair treatment of the people by the unrightful rulers of the land. Therefore,
he decided to show his opposition and bring to life the Czech culture and nationalism sprit among the people with music
and hence the composition of ‘The Moldau’.
When was The Moldau banned?
When Hitler and the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in
March 1939
, Czech symphonies played The Moldau as a protest against the German invasion until the Nazis banned all performances of The Moldau in the capital city of Prague in an attempt to break the Czech people’s independent spirit.
What’s the river in Prague called?
Flowing through the centre of the city,
the Vltava River
is the lifeline of Prague and has given rise to some of the city’s most important historical sights, including Charles Bridge.
What does Vltava mean in English?
(Czech ˈvltava) noun.
a river in the Czech Republic
, rising in the Bohemian Forest and flowing generally southeast and then north to the River Elbe near Melnik.
How do you pronounce Vltava?
| Vltava | • elevation 155 m (509 ft) | Length 430 km (270 mi) | Basin size 28,090 km 2 (10,850 sq mi) | Discharge |
|---|
What is the meaning of the title of the full work Má Vlast in English?
Smetana finished composing this piece, commonly translated as “
From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields” or “From Bohemian Fields and Groves
“, on 18 October 1875 and received its first public performance nearly eight weeks later, on 10 December.
Who wrote Vltava?
It contains the famous symphonic poem “Vltava”, also popularly known by its German name “Die Moldau” (in English, “The Moldau”).
Smetana
was naturally gifted as a composer, and gave his first public performance at the age of 6.
