MOLDAVA TODAY

Description

by Bedrich Smetana

arr. Picarband

to remember B. Smetana on the 200th anniversary of his birth

the instrumentation and modern style is for a youth band

 

With the song MOLDAVA TODAY we wish to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the musician Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884).

In his symphonic poem the MOLDAVA, divided into seven parts, the Bohemian composer celebrates the beauty of this river which originates in the Šumava and after crossing the countryside, reaches Prague and then flows into the Elbe which in turn will flow into the North Sea.

This arrangement and band adaptation refers to the famous theme that is part of the repertoire of popular and traditional Slavic music. It is a sweet motif that describes the quiet flow of the river (with its ascending and descending musical form resembling a wave) with within it the fluid accompaniment of groups of notes, distributed among the various instrumental sections that allow the elaboration modern style rhythm through the use of various percussions.

MOLDAVA TODAY is presented in two parts: the first harmonically in a minor key while the second in a major key with different dynamic developments which then dilute in the final part.

The piece is intended not only for performance by youth bands (the intent is to make the melodic beauty of the Vltava theme known and performed with ease) furthermore we want to encourage young instrumentalists to carry out photographic research, that of accompanying music with a series of naturalistic images inherent to the theme: “The river tells”.

During the concert it is purposeful to enrich the musical proposal and this theme of the river that tells could become the unifying element of a research journey: for example, popular traditions can be illustrated, the past compared with the present, suggested by the flow of The water that flows through various countries, places, historical and artistic cities such as Prague, civilizations were born and developed right along the banks of the river.

Therefore the arrangement of MOLDAVA TODAY lends itself to telling life, with the alternating historical events, marked by the rhythm of the waves, now slow and placid, now agitated and enthralling; the river has many things to tell, it is a symbol of the flow and flow of our humanity.

With these descriptive suggestions it will certainly be possible to create a well-expressive and motivating, calm and thoughtful interpretation; I deliberately arranged this easy Vltava theme, in a didactic form, intended for young performers, in the name of educating with musical beauty.

Therefore I invite every Band Director to follow the musical flow of this MOLDAVA TODAY, starting from melodic simplicity, thinking of a journey that crosses the collective imagination.

Good performance, in memory of the Bohemian composer Bedřich Smetana, whom we thank for the beautiful music he gave us.

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