"My Motherland" consists of six symphonic poems, namely "Vishelad", "Vltava River", "Salka", "Bohemian Plains and "Forest", "Tabor" and "Brannik" not only depict the colorful motherland in Smetana's heart, but also reflect Smetana's strong innovative spirit in art.
The six songs are:
1. Vysehrad (Vysehrad) is a castle located south of Prague and on the east bank of the Vltava River. The poet of Smetana looks out over the castle rocks and listens attentively to the legendary bard Rumil playing his harp. At this moment, the castle's glorious past seems to be reappearing before our eyes. In front of the Dukes and Princes, there was a large group of knights ready to go. The footsteps of the soldiers in the city echoed with the cheers of victory. However, the past glory and decline scenes immediately appeared in the poet's eyes. The fierce war swept away like a mad gaze, and everything that was magnificent turned into rubble. After the storm, the castle was abandoned in ruins and remained silent for a long time. The echo of Rummel's harp came from the ruins, like weeping. "This piece is Adagio, in the key of E-flat major, with the cadenza of the first harp as the main body, occasionally adding the castle motive of the second harp. The cadenza ends and turns to the slowest adagio. The trumpet sound of the knights' assembly appears, interspersed with Lu The music of Mir's harp and the noisy sound pattern of the Vltava River reappeared, then turned into a less exciting and lively Andante. In the fierce struggle part, the theme was deformed and counterpoint was introduced, and the brass was borrowed from Beethoven's music. Motive of destiny. The melody that reaches the climax represents the glory of the past is presented by the woodwind, and then this part seems to stand in the ruins. The speed changes to a slow adagio, and the harp is added, and the castle theme reappears, indicating the reminiscence of the past and disappearing quietly. .
2. Vltava River (Vltava), Smetana said: The Vltava River has two sources. The water makes a happy sound when it meets the rocks, and it shines when exposed to the sun. The river bed gradually widens, and the echoes of hunting horns and country dances - sunshine and the dance of fairies - are heard from both sides. The water flows into the St. John's Canyon, and the river water laps against the rocks on the shore, and the water splashes into the slow-moving Prague, towards the ancient Victoria. Shehrad said hello. "This piece is a fast Allegro, in the key of E minor. It is played by the first and second violins. The first water source is described by the flute, a cool stream; the second water source is represented by the clarinet, a gentle stream. of water flow. After the two water flows merge, the river bed is wide. The oboe and the first violin play the first theme, which develops after repeated repetitions, showing that it shines against the sun. Then it shows "it patrols in the forest", the sound of the French horn is "listening to the echo of the hunting horn", "it passes through the crop fields and enjoys the abundant harvest". Then it shows the wedding of farmers, "on both sides of it, the joyful sound of a country wedding can be heard." Switching to the key of A flat major, the flute and oboe describe the flow of water, and the first violin plays the "very gentle" third theme, showing "the water nymphs singing charming songs and playing on the top of the waves under the moonlight." Switching to E minor, the oboe and the first violin played the first theme. It was already morning. "On the cliffs in the nearby wilderness, the ruins of castles that retain memories of past glory and achievements were listened to the noise of its waves. The river flowed along St. John's Canyon rushes down, impacting the steep rock cliffs, making a loud noise." After passing through the rapids and entering Prague, the first theme in E major is played by the woodwind and the first violin. The castle theme appears in the woodwind part, indicating that it flows through Vysehrad, showing all its beauty and solemnity. After the harp cadenza, it turns to a solemn slowest, and finally shows the river passing by the palace of the former King of Bohemia, "merging with the great current of the Elbe and gradually disappearing into the distance."
3. Sarka, Smetana said: I am in a place called Sarka, commemorating this heroine. The story begins when Salka's lover betrays her, causing her to vow revenge on all men. At this time, Ctsrad and the soldiers appeared and saw her tied to the tree. He fell in love with her. She teased him, and while the soldiers were drunk and making a fool of themselves, she blew the horn and gave instructions to the women. The companions attacked the defenseless military camp and killed the enemy without leaving any trace. "According to Bohemian legend, Wlasta was the queen of the Amazons. She attacked Bohemia. The knight challenged, but because he could not win, he asked his subordinate Salka to tie him to a tree to seduce the Bohemian soldiers. As a result, Stilat fell into the trap and Amazon took the opportunity to kill them all. The exciting and passionate Allegro first describes the battle between the Amazons and the Bohemian knights in A minor. The woodwind and violin show its theme, and then reaches the moderate midtempo, which describes the knight entering the forest and the clarinet expresses Sal tied to the tree. The theme of Stirrat is presented by bassoon and cello solo, and the dialogue between clarinet and cello shows Salka's teasing of Stirrat. In the middle part, Stirrat brings Salka to the camp for a banquet. After reaching the climax, only the rhythm is left, showing the soldiers being drunk, and then changing to a very lively speed. The horn uses a signal tone to express Salka's call, and the Amazon army appears, falling into chaos, and finally Amazon. The forest and grassland of Bohemia (Z ceskych luhuv a hajuv), Smetana, when we stand in the Czech Republic. As far as the eye can see from the ground, there are familiar sounds that feel close to us from all directions - from fields and forests.
Sometimes it is joyful, sometimes it is meditative. What it wants to express here is the multi-faceted emotional experience that arises at such moments. "This piece is in the key of G minor. The cool breeze pattern on the prairie is repeated in the middle plate. After the brass is silent, the violin takes over, and the clarinet appears with a melancholy melody. The oboe and bassoon develop this musical idea, and the flute joins in. After the key change, The first violin and the second violin counterpoint to create a lively atmosphere and express people's singing and dancing. Then 4 horns and clarinets are added to play the chant chorus, and then switch to D flat major, the woodwinds play a sweet tune, and the horns join in, entering the peasants. Harvest atmosphere. After the Allegro of the Dapolka, the large ensemble plays, and then the violin unfolds alone, with the clarinet and bassoon in sweet counterpoint. After the dance reaches its peak, the speed slows down, and the woodwind becomes lyrical, continuing to another peak, with the main chord in G major. End.
5. Tabor is a small town about 100 kilometers south of Prague. There was an important figure in the Czech Republic in the 15th century, Jan Huss (1369?--1415). ), Hussite introduced the religious reform, awakening the Czech national sentiment, and was arrested and burned for anti-Catholicism. After Hus's death, the Hussites launched the Bohemian War. This song was chosen to defend Tabor. An ancient hymn by the Hussites of the city, "You Are the Soldiers of God". Adagio, in D minor. The motive of this hymn is played first. After the intensity increases, the first part of the hymn is presented, treated in a developing style. Then the hymn melody is presented. After counterpoint processing, the speed rises to a very lively Allegro, expressing war, and then changes into a solemn Adagio. The hymn expresses the victory of the Hussites, and the trombone plays the first castle theme, which is transformed, It forms a peak at a vivid speed and ends.
6. Blanik Mountain (Blanik Mountain) is near Prague. It is said that the Hussites did not die, they just rested and gathered here. Ready to come out from the mountains at any time to liberate Bohemia from tyranny for the freedom of the motherland. With the moderate Allegro in D minor, the Hussite hymn motive is played first, and the counterpoint unfolds to suggest that the heroes are resting in a long sleep. In the Andante that is not too fast, the oboe plays a pastoral melody and the speed is accelerated, indicating that the enemy is attacking and the flocks are fleeing. The signal is blown, and the horns lead the hymn again, leading to a march, indicating that the heroes are ready to enter the battle and win. At this time, the powerful castle theme represents the continuous glory of the Czech past, and finally turns into a lively Allegro, and the two hymns come together and end solemnly.