Má vlast

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

Related Topics:
Symphonic poem - 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.

Related Topics:
Franz Liszt - 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.

Related Topics:
Castle of that name - Prague

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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.

Related Topics:
Vltava - Hatikvah

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

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Fourth is Z českých luhů a hájů (From Czech Fields and Forests), composed in 1875, which depicts the beauty of the Czech countryside.

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The last two poems, Tábor (from 1875) and Blaník (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.

Related Topics:
Hussite Wars - Knights sleeping under a hill

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