Smetana Moldau

[elleng]

The river is born: 00:01
The flow is constant: 01:08
The river enters the Forest Hunt: 03:12
The river passes through a Farmer's Wedding: 04:27
The river enters the Nymph Gorge: 06:15
The River keeps flowing: 08:51
The river fall through St. John's Rapids: 09:50 (the rapids don't exist anymore, there's a reservoir in their place now)
The Moldau Flows Wide: 11:09
The river is in Prague, the seat of the king: 11:39
The River Disappears Into the Distance: 12:32

((Sorry missed posting this from my radio station, so here's a gift for DU, one of my favorites.))

[Otto_Harper]

1. The interesting thing about this piece

is that the main theme (1:08 onward) is derived from a melody which bounced around Europe for centuries and can be heard in many songs from many lands. A very clear statement can be heard in the 16th century Italian song "Fuggi Fuggi Fuggi", which is also klnown as "La Mantovana". This melody has been claimed by some to be traceable back as far as the 12th Century, to a Jewish enclave in Mantua.

[elleng]

2. Bueno!

No wonder I feel so close to it!

[Otto_Harper]

3. You can also hear the same melody surface

in the Israeli national anthem "Hatikvah"

[elleng]

4. No surprise!

Similar analysis provided in PBS' docu on

*Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy

Joel Grey narrates this look at the role Jewish composers and lyricists played in creating the modern American musical. Archival and performance clips accent the documentary.

PBS Great Performances, televised this past June (and past years, I think.)

[Otto_Harper]

5. But its not only Jewish connected pathways through which the piece travels.

Here is a link to a piece of liturgical music in which the basic influence of La Mantovana can be heard.

[Tadpole Raisin]

6. This is beautiful. No wonder it is one of your favorites. Thanks also for

the time points. That was nice!

I like listening to the musical posts people make but can’t keep up with all of them. I feel an obligation to hear them all but some are so long it’s impossible and then I feel like I’m missing out, sigh…

Sorry for the tangent.

[elleng]

7. Thanks!