A devoutly patriotic work, The Moldau captures in music Smetana’s love of his homeland. Completed in 1874 and first performed the following year, the piece constitutes the second movement of a six-movement suite, Má vlast (My Country), which premiered in its entirety in Prague on November 5, 1882.
What does The Moldau refer to?
Moldau is a German word which may refer to: The historical region of Moldavia. Vltava, a river in the Czech Republic. Moldova River, a river in Romania. “The Moldau”, German name of a symphonic poem by Bedřich Smetana named after the Vltava.
Is The Moldau romantic?
It is an orchestral arrangement that is broken into sections rich in musical concepts. Smetana’s The Moldau is very representative of late 19th century music. Romantic Period – The Moldau demonstrates Smetana’s own personal feelings about his homeland of today’s Czechoslovakia.
What inspired The Moldau?
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.
What nationality is Smetana?
Bedřich Smetana, (born March 2, 1824, Leitomischl, Bohemia, Austrian Empire [now Litomyšl, Czech Republic]—died May 12, 1884, Prague), Bohemian composer of operas and symphonic poems, founder of the Czech national school of music. He was the first truly important Bohemian nationalist composer.
Is The Moldau a Rondo?
The Moldau, which has achieved the strongest independent life among the six symphonic poems, is a rondo (with coda) in which the haunting, G-major main theme is introduced by the upper strings and woodwinds, with the lower strings suggesting the river waves.
What is the subject of The Moldau?
The second, Vltava (The Moldau), occupied him from November 20 through December 8—a span of nineteen days (he noted in his diary). Its subject is the Bohemian river that flows north through Prague on its way to join the Elbe, which in turn leads its waters to the North Sea.
How do you pronounce Moldau?
Phonetic spelling of Moldau. moldau. vuhl-tuh-vuh.Meanings for Moldau.Examples of in a sentence.Translations of Moldau. Russian : Молдау
Is The Moldau nationalism?
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) is remembered chiefly as a Czech nationalistic composer. His nationalism expressed itself above all in his operas, but he also wrote symphonic tone poems after the example of Franz Liszt.
How many symphonies did Brahms compose?
Brahms wrote a number of major works for orchestra, including two serenades, four symphonies, two piano concertos (No. 1 in D minor; No. 2 in B-flat major), a Violin Concerto, a Double Concerto for violin and cello, and two companion orchestral overtures, the Academic Festival Overture and the Tragic Overture.
Where is The Moldau 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.
How long is The Moldau?
Vltava, also known by its English title The Moldau, and the German Die Moldau, was composed between 20 November and 8 December 1874 and was premiered on 4 April 1875 under Adolf Čech. It is about 13 minutes long, and is in the key of E minor.
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.
Why was The Moldau important?
“The Moldau” represents an exceptional expression of patriotic or nationalistic music. The musical poem reflects the pride, oppression, and hope of the Bohemian people. Before World War 1 Bohemia, presently the Czech Republic, was ruled by the Austro- Hungarian Empire.
Where do composers get their inspiration?
Musical Inspiration
How composers get this inspiration is as varied as the musical product themselves. Some get it from reading, others observing the world. Many have inspirations from life events. Inspiration may not be in the form of a flash of brilliance in your mind.
