Chapter 19

Nationalism
The history of Western music has had
much to do with the progressively making
explicit of what nature leaves implicit.
Anthony Burgess

Nationalism
Self-conscious,

aggressive nationalistic
feeling flared up in
literature and music
Incorporation of folk
melody
Contributions from many
countries
Russia
Mikhail Glinka

Russian Five

England
Ralph Vaughan
Williams
Edward Elgar
Finland
Jean Sibelius
Norway
Edward Grieg
Spain
Manul De Falla
Italy
Ottorino Respighi

Bedich Smetana
(1824-1884)
Founder of Czech national school
Merged the spirit of Bohemian folk music with

innovations of European music

Gifted pianist, trained in European tradition
On visit to Prague heard Liszt and Berlioz, their
music influenced his turn to nationalism
1856, travel to Sweden, taught and conducted
1862, returned to Czechoslovakia
Began work on opera in Czech language
Produced 10 operas, 8 on patriotic themes
1874 became deaf; died at age 60

M Vlast (My Country)

Bedich Smetana
Best known work aside from operas
Composed in 1874
Cycle of 6 symphonic poems
Celebrates Bohemian history
Vltava (The Moldau) is finest of the 6
Programmatic; traces musically the

course of the Moldau river from its

sources through central Bohemia to
Prague and on to join another river, the
Elbe

Listening Guide: The Moldau

Bedich Smetana
Two springs,

sources of river

The Moldau
Forest Hunt
Peasant Wedding
Moonlight, water

sprites

Flutes, harp, and pizzicato

strings portray cold spring
Clarinets enter, portray warm spring
Springs blend together
triangle note, flowing
accompaniment, Moldau theme
Hunting horns, louder trumpet calls,
calls and accompaniment die away
Style of Czech folk dance, dies
away to single bass note
Woodwind long notes, violins,
high melody, portray calm river

Listening Guide: The Moldau (cont.)

Bedich Smetana

Distant brass fanfares recall ancient ruins, timpani roll

and woodwind crescendo
The Moldau Return of theme, flowing acc.
St. Johns Rapids
Sudden brass calls, ff, cymbal roll,
white water of rapids
The Moldau The Moldau flowing majestically
through Prague
Vysehrad Castle
Brass play castle theme; home of
Bohemias heroes
Coda
Fragment of Moldau theme,
gradually
quieter, chords, f.