As a Czech composer, Smetana is known as the "Father of Czech National Music" and enjoys an extremely high status in the Czech Republic. Introduction to Smetana, the symphonic poem suite "My Motherland" is his A famous representative work created. "My Motherland" holds a high status in the history of music and has always been considered the starting point of Czech national symphony music. This famous classic is full of patriotic enthusiasm, the music structure is magnificent and the music image is poetic. It is an ode full of deep love for the motherland and people, unwavering faith and optimism for the future and brightness. The work is like a poetic picture, and the music is full of vitality and power.
As a well-known and immortal masterpiece, Smetana's symphonic poem "My Motherland" has long been sung in our country. Among them, the second movement "Vltava River" is especially represented. This famous movement is almost unknown to everyone. The suite "My Motherland" is composed of six symphonic poems: "Vishehrad", "Vltava", "Salka", "From the Forests and Fields of Bohemia" ", "Tabor" and "Brannick" respectively describe the magnificent poetic natural scenery and the thousand-year-old historical myths in the land of Bohemia. This is also the first song in history to describe the country in this form. ’s musical masterpiece. Hundreds of years later, the beauty and poetry exuded by this piece of music can still touch the hearts of listeners around the world.
Listen first:
First movement: "Visehrad"
"Visehrad" is the name of a castle in the Czech Republic , he symbolizes the history of the glorious struggle of the Czech people. The entire movement has the nature of a commemorative tribute, just like the solemn and magnificent prelude to the entire suite. At the beginning of the whole song, guided and accompanied by the harp, the band played the broad and solemn theme music of "Visekhrad" at a slow speed. The theme gradually expands and reaches a powerful climax through the playing of different combinations of various instruments. Then moving into dramatic contrast, the music depicts scenes of medieval knights fighting. After that, the solemn "Vishehrad" theme appears again and gradually weakens and finally ends in the sound of the harp.
Second Movement: "Vltava River"
The Vltava River is a large river that flows through the Czech Republic. It is called "Voltava River" by the Czech people. Mother River". The Vltava River (the mother river of the Czech nation) described in the song runs through the beautiful and fertile land from south to north and is the cradle of the Czech nation. The music plays the most famous theme of the rushing river, showing the magnificent and solemn scene of the Vltava River. The melody is lyrical and charming. It is a piece of exciting and joyful music, and it is also a charming lyrical symphonic music. It is also the most acceptable work created by Smetana. This infectious, smooth and natural E minor melody plays a leading and unified role in the whole song. The music of forest hunting, the folk polka of country wedding and the theme music are organically combined. The music finally changes to the key of E major, showing that the Vltava River flows toward Prague in a more magnificent and majestic way. "Vltava" is often performed as a single.
The third movement: "Salka"
This symphonic poem is based on folklore, and the whole song is compact and concise. Several pieces of music with different scenes appeared successively, such as the beautiful melody describing the samurai's falling in love, and the music of the samurai's brutal battle. Finally the Shalka theme appears again and ends the movement.
The fourth movement: "Czech Fields and Forests"
This is a symphonic poem describing the scenery of the Czech land. The music begins with a vast and solemn prelude, from which people can appreciate the beauty of the Czech land. Then, there is Czech folk dance music, with cheerful and bright tones from weak to strong, expressing the confident mood of the Czech people who live and work freely in the fields and forests. They are the masters of the Czech land and are also the center of this chapter's song.
Fifth Movement: "Tabor"
"Tapol" was a strong fortress for Czech freedom and resistance to foreign oppression during the Czech Hussite Wars in the Middle Ages.
This section of music is based on this historical fact, and the song "Soldiers of God, Who Are You All" from the Hussite movement is used in the music to give the music a historical color and strong patriotic sentiment. The melody tone of the whole song is firm and decisive. The rhythm is intensive, the sound is powerful, and it has shocking power.
Sixth Movement: "Bronnick"
"Bronnick" is the name of Sammy's posthumous work near Prague. During the Hussite Movement, heroic warriors moved here and died heroically. The music begins with the tune of a Hussite song, describing the scene of Hussite's heroic warriors marching in the Brownic Mountains; then a scene of mountain pastures appears, as if the Hussite warriors are gradually disappearing; and then, the music depicts their fight for the freedom of their motherland. Heroic battle scenes. The ending is magnificent and majestic. The theme of "Vishehrad" appears again, combined with the tones of Hussite songs, expressing the strong and optimistic belief that the people will win.
The concert on November 22, 2009 specially invited Czech conductor Jiri Belolevic, the "ace" of the British BBC Symphony Orchestra, to visit Guangzhou for the first time and will soon take charge of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra on the stage of Xinghai Concert Hall. An introduction to Smetana. During the concert, he will perform Smetana's classic masterpiece "My Motherland" for us. The second piece of this song, "Vltava River", is a household name and is often performed as a single. "My Motherland" is a popular song that praises the motherland. It is very rare for the whole song to be performed in a concert. For the first time, Belolevic and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra will present the six symphonic poems of "My Motherland" in full. I believe that the Czech conductor will perform the Czech composer's music content and faithfully restore the essence of the composer's original work. Leading the audience on a journey through the beautiful mountains, rivers and cultural landscapes of the Czech Republic.
Related concerts:
Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra 2009-2010 Music Season
"My Motherland" - Symphony by Czech conductor Jiri Belolevic Concert
Conductor: Jiri Belolevic (Music Director of BBC Symphony Orchestra)
Performer: Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra
Repertoire:
Smetana "My Motherland"
Hosted by: Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Guangdong Xinghai Concert Hall
Time: 20:00 pm on November 22, 2009
Venue: Symphony Hall of Xinghai Concert Hall
Ticket price: ￥180/150/100/80 (*** half price for students and senior citizens)
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