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December 01, 2024
The Gaggle Music Club

This week's selection for The Gaggle Music Club is Bedřich Smetana's Má vlast ("My Homeland" ).

The work, a cycle of six symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879, is an iconic works of Czech classical music, celebrating the history, legends, and landscapes of the Czech lands. The cycle reflects Smetana's desire to create music that symbolized the cultural identity of Bohemia, which now is part of the Czech Republic.

Each of the six symphonic poems in Má vlast is distinct, yet they are often performed as a complete set. The sections are:

Vyšehrad (The High Castle):

This depicts the legendary Vyšehrad castle in Prague, a symbol of Czech heritage. It features a harp motif representing the castle’s bard and transitions to grandeur as the castle's history unfolds.

Vltava (The Moldau):

This is the most famous symphonic poem of the cycle, and is frequently performed by itself as part of the standard orchestral repertoire. The music traces the course of the Vltava River as it flows through Czech lands. It evokes scenes of forests, villages, and Prague itself, endowing folk tunes with sweeping orchestration.

Šárka:

This symphonic poem is based on a legend of a female warrior who lures men into a trap as part of a revenge story. The music alternates between violent and tender themes, capturing Šárka's cunning.

Z českých luhů a hájů (From Bohemia’s Meadows and Forests):

This is a pastoral piece celebrating the beauty of Bohemia's countryside.
It is rich in folk melodies, and evokes the natural charm and vitality of rural life.

Tábor:

This is named after the Hussite stronghold, it incorporates a Hussite chorale (Ktož jsú boží bojovníci, "Ye Who Are Warriors of God" ) as a symbol of Czech resilience and defiance.

Blaník:

It concludes the cycle by invoking the legend of Blaník Mountain, where sleeping knights await to defend the Czech nation in its time of need. It builds on the Hussite theme and ends triumphantly, uniting the cycle's nationalistic themes.

Smetana composed Má vlast during a period of rising Czech nationalism in the 19th century, as the region sought greater cultural and political autonomy from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Má vlast is today a staple of Czech musical heritage and is performed annually at the opening of the Prague Spring International Music Festival.

Here Má vlast is performed by the WDR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Semyon Bychkov. It took place on Jan. 18, 2019 at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall.

01:23:07
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