František Xaver Sandmann (1805–1856)

Composer: Bedřich Smetana Artists: Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar (conductor) Bedřich Smetana was a forerunner of the Nationalist music movement in 19th-century Czechoslovakia, and played a large part in developing the country’s musical identity. This disc comprises Smetana’s most renowned work, the inimitable Má vlast (My Homeland), a series of six tone poems – composed over five years – that depict different elements of the landscape of the composer’s native country. Vyšehrad, or The High Castle, is the first movement, based on the castle in Prague – the residence of early Czech kings. It opens with arpeggios played by a duo of harps, and later a military element is portrayed with the help of a march theme. The second movement Vltava (The Moldau), depicts the route of the river from the mountains to its end. Šárka, the third movement, explores the Czech folklore centred on the Bohemian Amazon maiden of the same name. This is followed by Z českých luhů a hájů (From Bohemia’s Meadows and Fields); a depiction of a beautiful landscape on a sunny day. These first four movements were intended to complete the work, but after a gap of four years Smetana composed another two: Tábor, portraying the Hussite warriors who founded and defended the city of Tábor in 1420, and Blaník, named after the mountain in central Bohemia. This, the final movement, begins with the same driving rhythms as Tábor and later relents into a joyful hymn. It is easy to see how this work paved the way for Smetana to be heralded as one of Czechoslovakia’s greatest composers and patriots. The works are performed by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Theodore Kuchar. Tracklist 00:00:00 Bedrich Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112: I. Vyšehrad 00:14:57 Bedrich Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112: II. Vltava (The Moldau) 00:26:36 Bedrich Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112: III. Šárka 00:36:16 Bedrich Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112: IV. From Bohemia’s Meadows and Forests 00:48:43 Bedrich Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112: V. Tábor 01:00:16 Bedrich Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112: VI. Blaník Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe and visit our channel for the best classical music from the greatest composers like: Bach, Satie, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Chopin, Haydn, Ravel, Debussy, Verdi, Vivaldi, Handel, Brahms, Liszt, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, Strauss, Handel, Dvorak, Schubert and many more! We upload complete albums, music for relaxing, working, studying, meditating, concentrating, instrumental music, opera, violin, classical piano music, sonatas and more!