Nationalism•Napoleonic wars and invasions

•Increased use of vernacular in documents

•Fascination with folk culture

–Legends, fairy tales, dances, folk songs

•Personal Styles based on national identity

–In varying ways to different degrees

Nationalism

• Operas and Ballets inspired by legend or history– Ex: Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake

• Sometimes politically motivated

• Rise in composers from Poland, the Slavic nations, Scandinavia, and RUSSIA

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884)

• First Czech Composer

• Repressed due to Austrian rule

• Immigrated to Sweden, but

eventually returned to Prague

• Worked as conductor, pianist

composer, and teacher

• Age 50 became deaf, died of syphilis

Ma Vlast

• “My Country”- Smetana’s most famous work

• A cycle of 6 tone poems

• Most famous poem is “The Moldau”– The main river through Bohemia– Depicts tributaries, the river, the countryside,

meadows, water nymphs, the forrest

The Moldau

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

• Born into poverty

• Age 16 moved to Prague

• Worked as musician (unknown)

• Discovered by Brahms – Immediate success

• Traveled abroad, first England

• Then America (director of National Conservatory of Music)

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

• Large increase in income• Spent summers in Spillville, IA• Interest in Negro Spirituals, Native American

music• "I am convinced that the future music of this country must be

founded on what are called Negro melodies. These can be the foundation of a serious and original school of composition, to be developed in the United States. These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil. They are the folk songs of America and your composers must turn to them."

• Returned to Prague at the end of his life

New World Symphony

• The symphony was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, and premiered on December 16, 1893 at Carnegie Hall conducted by Anton Seidl.

• Based on American folk music• Combination of admiration for American music

within his own Czech style• Standard 4 movement structure, form, and

instrumentation• Use of Negro spirituals

– First Movement- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot– Second Movement- Going Home