Music History - Vltava (The Moldau)

Expressive elements (dynamics, articulation etc.) 

Lots of dynamics  

Pizz, staccato articulation  

Form/structure (including arrangement) 

imilar to rondo form: Intro, A, B, C, D, A, E, A’, F, Coda (w/o return of A) 

• Intro: Source of the river, cold brook and warm brook from flutes and clarinets (undulating ascending and descending motif) 

• A – Moldau River Theme: The river theme is introduced in the violin 1 and oboes, the lower strings continue to play the streams with a trembling/swaying effect 

• B – Forest Hunt: Hunting call in the horns, dynamic contrast, thicker melodic lines, modal mixture (moving freely between Ionian and Aeolian) 

• C – Country Wedding/peasant dance: Polka style in 2/4 time (wedding guests dancing), relative major (G major) for joyful celebration 

• D – Moonlight nymph’s dance: Delicate texture, sparse orchestration to symbolise the nymphs (hear the harp for angelic tone) 

• A – Moldau River Theme: Theme repeats 

• E – St John’s Rapids: Repeated chords, frantic semiquavers only ascending, chromaticism 

• A’ – Moldau River Theme: Presented by full orchestra in triumphant key (E maj - parallel) 

• F – Vyshrad Theme: Homophonic texture, themes unify (final destination) 

• Coda: Texture gradually thins until violins remain 

Pitch/melody 

Melody is passed through many instruments throughout the piece 

Program music: Czech river 

Nationalist music: Folk music, modal, different harmonies 

Harmony, key, tonality 

E minor, C major in B section, G major in C section, Ab major in D section, unstable in E section, E major in A’ and F and Coda 

Rhythm (duration, tempo, metre) 

Emulate folk music (metre changes)  

Changes with story  

Texture 

• Homophonic and polyphonic sections 

• Thick orchestral texture with a large Romantic orchestra 

Timbre (instrumentation, orchestration, instrumental/vocal techniques, electronic effects) 

• large Romantic orchestra 

List Instruments: 

• Piccolo 

• 2 flutes 

• 2 oboe 

• 2 clarinets in c 

• 2 bassoons 

• 4 horns in C 

• 2 trumpets in C 

• 2 trombones 

• 3 bass trombones and tuba 

• Timpani in E and B 

• Triangle 

• Bass drum and cymbals 

• Harp/piano 

• 1^st violin 

• 2^nd violin 

• Viola 

• Cello 

• Double bass  

Compositional devices 

Imitation, Ostinato, pedal point, sequences

relevant personal socio-political and/or cultural influences (directly related to the designated work) 

Wars occurring --> patriotism 

Romanticism- philosophy  

musical characteristics of the associated musical style/era/performer (directly related to the designated work) 

Romanticism: focus on nature and medieval folklore (knights and chivalry) 

Nationalistic: 

Symphonic poem – Cycle of 6 symphonic poems from Ma Vlast