In addition to the opera “Die verkaufte Braut/ The sold Bride” the cycle of six symphonic poems “My Fatherland” is the most famous composition by Bedrich Smetana. The composer, can tell stories in describing the landscape and places of his Czech homeland in various and picture-drawn sets.

1. Vyšehrad
In the first part of the symphonic poem Vysehrad, the composer describes the old Prague castle with the same name. The composition begins with magic, reminiscent harp sounds of Barden Lumir. Soon the ancient castle emerges in full glory in Smetana’s picturesque world.<br />

2. Vltava – The Vlatva River
The most famous sentence from the cycle “My Fatherland” is the symphonic poem “Die Moldau/ The Moldau”. The famous Moldau theme is inspired by an Italian melody from the Renaissance, but this is again found in other nation songs (e.g. Sweden, etc.). The whole part is based on the Moldau theme. Smetana describes how the water springs from its two sources, how it evolves into a river, pastures and festivals, flows over dangerous rapids and finally past the old Prague castle – here Smetana uses the Burgthema of the last time First part “Vysehrad” – until the river runs into the Elbe.

3. Sárka
In this composition, Smetana describes the work of the Amazon Queen Sarka who acts as a bait when banded a tree when Prince Ctirad announced a march. Sarka, who swore revenge on the men’s world, began a short romance with the Prince and married him. After the wedding when everyone was asleep, Sarka called her warriors and began the massacre.

4. Z českých luhů a hájů – From Bohemia’s Hain und Flur
Smetana describes the fourth part of his cycle “My Fatherland” as “thoughts and feelings at the sight of the Bohhttp://symphonicworks.ch/neuerscheinung-mein-vaterland-sinfonische-dichtung-von-bedrich-smetana-carlo-balmelli-transkription-fuer-blasorchester/emian homeland”.

5. Tábor
Tabor is an East Bohemian city, which was the headquarters of the Hussites. The Hussites were followers of the Bohemian reformer Jan Hus, who was executed at the Council of Constance. Tabor has been a symbol of Czech national rebirth since the 19th century. As a Tabor Theme, Smetana used the old Hussite chorale, “You are her God of Conqueror.”

6. Blaník
In the last part of this great cycle, Smetana described the Blanik mountain. According to the legend, the Blanik mountain had a cavalry rider under the leadership of St. Wenceslas, who is to help the Czech lands during unforeseen bad times. In the Coda of this movement, Smetana combines the Hussite chorus from Tabor with the Vysehrad theme and finalises the entire cycle brilliantly.

The sets Two (Moldau) and Four (From Bohemia’s Hain und Flur) transcription for wind orchestra are still being worked on and will be published later.

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