Music and Literature
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The Water Goblin (Vodník) by Antonín Dvořák, Op. 108
http://musicandliterature.word<wbr>press.com
This video provides thorough annotations of Dvořák's symphonic poem, 'The Water Goblin'. The composition itself is based on the literary poem 'Vodník' (from the collection 'Kytice') by Karel Jaromír Erben (1853). The annotations are intended to make the structure of the piece easier to understand by demonstrating the various musical motifs, or themes, that represent various aspects of the poem's plot and characters.
The annotations themselves are based on a letter that Dvořák wrote to Dr. Robert Hirschfeld, a critic who was, at the time, writing the concert programme for the performance of the work by the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Hans Richter.
To read the letter, and to learn more about the piece, visit http://musicandliterature.word<wbr>press.com
- This performance is a recording of Sir Alexander Gibson and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Chandos, 1989).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dvorak<wbr>-Symphonic-Poems-Complete/dp/B<wbr>001MV4LI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s<wbr>=dmusic&qid=1251744584&sr=8-1
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'Francesca da Rimini' by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Op. 32
http://musicandliterature.word<wbr>press.com
This video provides various annotations for Tchaikovsky's symphonic fantasy, 'Francesca da Rimini'. The composition itself is based on the fifth canto from Dante's 'Inferno'.
The dark blue annotations are Tchaikovsky's own programme notes that appear at the start of the manuscript score. The pale blue annotations provide a suggested, detailed interpretation of the music, using Tchaikovsky's programme as a starting point, and then looking to Dante's poetry for inspiration. The green annotations are quotations of the poetry, and fit with the pale blue suggestions of what the music may be representing at that point in the piece. Personal interpretations may differ, but these annotations are intended to make the structure of the piece easier to understand by demonstrating the possible musical motifs, or themes, that could represent various aspects of the poem's plot and characters.
To read more about the 'Francesca da Rimini' of both Tchaikovsky and Dante, visit http://musicandliterature.word<wbr>press.com
- This performance is a recording of Christoph Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony Orchestra (Virgin, 2003 Digital Remaster).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sympho<wbr>ny-No-9-Francesca-Da-Rimini/dp<wbr>/B001KKYKN2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8<wbr>&s=dmusic&qid=1253654470&sr=8-<wbr>4
- Translation by John Ciardi
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Infern<wbr>o-Alighieri-Dante/dp/045152798<wbr>4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&q<wbr>id=1253654195&sr=8-3
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The Noon Witch (Polednice) by Antonín Dvořák, Op. 108
Read the poem in full, and more: http://bit.ly/rr39An
Dvořák's symphonic poem from 1896, 'The Noon Witch', is based on the literary poem 'Polednice' by Karel Jaromír Erben, written over 40 years earlier as part of the collection 'Kytice'.
This video reunites the symphonic and literary poems, partly by personal interpretation, and partly using a letter that Dvořák wrote to Dr. Robert Hirschfeld - a critic who wrote the concert programme for the piece's première.
The [red] annotations are direct (translated) quotations from the letter; the [grey] annotations are (translated) quotations from Erben's poem.
- This recording is Neeme Järvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Chandos, 1989): http://amzn.to/cpqYnY
- John Clapham, 'Dvořák's unknown letters on his Symphonic Poems' in 'Music and Letters' (1975, LVI: 277-287).
- Erben translation by Susan Reynolds.
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'Manfred' Symphony by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Op. 58
http://musicandliterature.word<wbr>press.com
This video provides various annotations for Tchaikovsky's programme symphony, 'Manfred'. The composition itself is based on the dramatic poem 'Manfred' by Lord Byron (1817).
The dark blue annotations are Tchaikovsky's own programme notes that appear at the start of each movement. The pale blue annotations provide a suggested, detailed interpretation of the music, using Tchaikovsky's programme as a starting point, and then looking to Byron's poetry for inspiration. The green annotations are quotations of the poetry, and fit with the pale blue suggestions of what the music may be representing at that point in the piece. Personal interpretations may differ, but these annotations are intended to make the structure of the piece easier to understand by demonstrating the possible musical motifs, or themes, that could represent various aspects of the poem's plot and characters.
To read more about the 'Manfred' of both Tchaikovsky and Byron, visit http://musicandliterature.word<wbr>press.com
- This performance is a recording of André Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra (EMI, 1997 Digital Remaster).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rachma<wbr>ninov-Tchaikovsky-Orchestral-W<wbr>orks-Sergey/dp/B000002SFQ/ref=<wbr>sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=125<wbr>3402704&sr=8-2
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About Music and Literature
This YouTube channel was devoted to presenting annotated performances of classical music based on works of literature in order to improve our understanding and aid our enjoyment.
The four playlists provided are thorough and complete, but owing to a severe illness and university commitments, I am uncertain whether or not I will be able to take up this project again.
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This YouTube channel was devoted to presenting annotated performances of classical music based on works of literature in order to improve our understanding and aid our enjoyment.
The four playlists provided are thorough and complete, but owing to...
more
more
less