Antonin Dvořák - The Water Goblin (Vodnik) Op.107 PART 1 OF 2

The source of inspiration for The Water Goblin was a poem found in a collection published by Karel Jaromír Erben under the title Kytice; while Dvořák composed six symphonic poems, four of these were inspired by works of poetry found in that collection.
It is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 tubas, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tam-tam, bells and strings.
Dvořák's symphonic piece, which is written in the form of a rondo, follows Erben's written verses remarkably closely. The music tells the story of a mischievous water goblin who traps drowning souls in upturned teacups. The mother tells the daughter a story and warns her not to go to the lake. Despite the mother's warnings, the daughter approaches the water and is abducted by the malevolent water goblin who lives there. He takes her as his wife. After the birth of their first child, the abducted wife pleads with the water goblin to allow her to return to her mother. He orders her to return by the evening bells. He keeps the child as insurance that she will return to him. However, the distraught mother keeps her daughter and forbids her to go even when the bells are ringing. The water goblin becomes angry, forsakes his lair in the lake and thumps on the door ordering the girl to go with him saying their child is hungry and crying. The mother then tells him to bring the child to them. The goblin is now furious as he returns to the lake. There is a crash and the mother and her daughter find the headless body of the child on the doorstep of the mother's hut.
The work had its full public premiere in London on 14 November 1896. It had received a semi-public performance on 1 June 1896 at the Prague Conservatory under Antonín Bennewitz.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• antonin
• dvorak;
• the
• water
• goblin;
• vodnik;
• symphonic
• poem;
• czech;
• romantic;
• orchestral;
• yt:stretch=4:3
• yt:crop=16:9
• yt:quality=high

[jankomuzykant81]

what performance is this? I love Dovrak's symphonic poems!!

[deviantrake]

It's from a cd I've had for about 20 years or so. It was a budget label called Tring, the information it gives is that it's played by The European Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Hymisher Greenburg. Although I think this is pretty dubious.

[josiedakota]

this is the best thing that has ever happen to me

[josiedakota]

this is amazing

[piano8091]

Oh, I love this Piece especially the impressionism sounding starting at 9:28