Má vlast

M? vlast ("My Country") is a set of six symphonic poems by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.

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In these works Smetana combined the symphonic poem form pioneered by Franz Liszt with the ideals of nationalistic music which were current in the late nineteenth century. Each poem depicts some aspect of the countryside, history or legends of Bohemia.

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The first poem, Vyšehrad (The High Castle), composed 1874, describes the castle of that name in Prague which was once the seat of Czech kings.

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The second and best-known, Vltava (The Moldau), also from 1874, describes the course of that river from near its origin down to Prague. This movement uses the same folk-song source that Israeli national anthem (Hatikvah) uses.

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The third poem, Š?rka, from 1875, relates a folk tale of a knight and an Amazon girl.

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Fourth is Z česk?ch luhů a h?jů (From Czech Fields and Forests), composed in 1875, which depicts the beauty of the Czech countryside.

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The last two poems, T?bor (from 1875) and Blan?k (1879), are inspired respectively by history from the Hussite Wars and legends of knights sleeping under a hill to come to the country's aid in its darkest hours.

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Symphonic poem: A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music, in one movement in which some extra-musical programme provides a narrative or illustrative element. This programme could come from a poem, a novel, a painting or some other source. Music based on extra-musical sources is often known as pr...

Franz Liszt: Franz Liszt (Hungarian: Liszt Ferenc) (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886) was a Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer. Liszt is widely considered to be one of the greatest piano virtuosi of all time, and certainly the most famous of the nineteenth century....

Bohemia: :For the place in the USA, see Bohemia, New York....

Má vlast related Images and Photos (experimental)

M.A.D.	M.A.S.H. 1970	M*A*S*H	M.A.S.H. - Red Cross
M.A.S.H. - Red Cross	Ma Mere	Women's: M.A.S.H. - Red Cross	Alan Alda - M*A*S*H
M.A.X. Stealth Jet Minimates Vehicle	Ma Rainey - Ma Rainey	Ma Rainey - Ma Rainey	Ma Coccinelle