'Ma Vlast': A Symbol Of Nationalism In Art

Nationalism can be defined as a patriotic feeling, often to an excessive degree. It was an important political movement that arose during the 19th century. It became an issue of national identity where the people strived to abandon their status as subjects of a ruler in order to achieve the concept of a nation. “Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood” became the slogan and idea of liberalism. This idea that grew tremendously throughout the century was influenced by the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars (1789-1814). Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austria, Turkey, Czech Republic, Poland and many more were affected by the political unrest that sparked nationalism. Composers such as Bedrich Smetana, Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka, Jean Sibelius, Edward Grieg, …show more content…
Smetana’s greatest work is the series of six orchestral national symphonic poems entitled Ma Vlast, which is translated as My Country. For this term paper, we will be looking at the second poem from the set, Vlatava (the Moldau). This piece depicts the journey of the Czech river from its source until it reaches the city of Prague. The River Moldau is a poetic symbol of the composers’ beloved native homeland, Bohemia. It is so beautifully composed that listeners are actually able to imagine the scenic beauty of the country’s landscape just by listening to the composition. He also included some folk elements such as the polka dance in the wedding. At the beginning of the piece, listeners can imagine the rippling figure of the two springs from the hills from the running notes by the flutes and clarinets. The lower strings then join in later on and lead the music into the river where the songlike river theme is heard in a minor key. Repeated notes in the strings (Figure 1) are heard, indicating a rustic folk tune while depicting a peasant wedding feast where the people are dancing the polka which is a Bohemian dance by the river