Where do you put Smetana on the world list?

I really love 'The Maldau'. Where does he fit in the world of composing? A player? B player?

I love the Moldau, too. It's so majestic and distressing...
Best is the main movement, when the river flows under the Royal Palace of the Bohemian Kings, in Prague.

But I guess it's the only thing Smetana should be remembered for...A huge masterpiece from a minor composer

Originally posted by el gil
But I guess it's the only thing Smetana should be remembered for...A huge masterpiece from a minor composer

Now, now. I'm not sure that's fair. I've listened to a little bit more of Smetana over the past
week or so (in an effort to remedy my aforementioned ignorance) and, while his output is not
as vast as Haydn's (e.g.), he's got some really rich stuff. The Trio in g (Violin, Cello and Piano)
is delicious, and his two string quartets are extremely mature works. They are definitely worth
investigating.

But I'm a sucker for chamber music...

Nemesio

Originally posted by sonhouse
I really love 'The Maldau'. Where does he fit in the world of composing? A player? B player?

Keep in mind that, for the most part of the 19th century, modern-day Germany really set the
agenda for music. So, you're going to find a higher representation of great German composers
than those from any other country.

That having been said, I think that what I've heard of Smetana's music (which isn't all that much
even at this point) stacks up with that of his contemporaries -- say Schumann or Brahms. He
was less prolific than either, but his mature works are equally as powerful.

On top of that, in the same way that a metaphorical compositional torch was passed from
Beethoven through Schumann to Brahms, of the Bohemian composers, we see the torch alighted
by Smetana, passed to Dvorak and on to the likes of Bartok.

So, while Smetana may not be the greatest composer, or even in a reasonable top 5, he certainly
merits the attention of the serious Western Art Music fan (or so I have come to believe).

Nemesio

Originally posted by Nemesio
Keep in mind that, for the most part of the 19th century, modern-day Germany really set the
agenda for music. So, you're going to find a higher representation of great German composers
than those from any other country.

That having been said, I think that what I've heard of Smetana's music (which isn't all that much
even at this point) stacks up wit ...[text shortened]... he attention of the serious Western Art Music fan (or so I have come to believe).

Nemesio

Thanks for the analysis, I always loved his works and wondered where he stood on the world market, lower output but very highly regarded. Thanks.

Originally posted by Nemesio
Keep in mind that, for the most part of the 19th century, modern-day Germany really set the
agenda for music. So, you're going to find a higher representation of great German composers
than those from any other country.

That having been said, I think that what I've heard of Smetana's music (which isn't all that much
even at this point) stacks up wit ...[text shortened]... he attention of the serious Western Art Music fan (or so I have come to believe).

Nemesio

Here is an interesting read about his life. He was deaf like Beethovan and worse, had a terrible case of tintinitus. He composed 7 operas anyway and other works:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed%C5%99ich_Smetana
Also found this, his opera 'The two widows' was performed just this year in Scotland:
http://www.eif.co.uk/event/two-widows.html

Originally posted by sonhouse
I really love 'The Maldau'. Where does he fit in the world of composing? A player? B player?

He was a Czech nationalist composer. Most well-known composers (at least, well-known today) of the era were nationalist: Smetana, Brahms, Bizet, Wagner, etc.

Originally posted by Nemesio
Keep in mind that, for the most part of the 19th century, modern-day Germany really set the
agenda for music. So, you're going to find a higher representation of great German composers
than those from any other country.

Actually, Austria-Hungary did, and Edward Said (yes, him again) argues that there is a political reason for that. It wasn't that Spanish or Italian or Greek or Russian composers did any less; it was because of the triumphs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 18th century and the continuation of this series of victories through the first part of the 19th. Once the victories stopped, the popularity continued, which is why we talk of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.

Originally posted by scherzo
Actually, Austria-Hungary did, and Edward Said (yes, him again) argues that there is a political reason for that. It wasn't that Spanish or Italian or Greek or Russian composers did any less; it was because of the triumphs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 18th century and the continuation of this series of victories through the first part of the 19t ...[text shortened]... tories stopped, the popularity continued, which is why we talk of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.

Instead of Berlioz, Bartok, and Benda. The OTHER 3 B's🙂

Originally posted by sonhouse
Instead of Berlioz, Bartok, and Benda. The OTHER 3 B's🙂

Yeah, but there's also Bruckner, Bellini, Buxtehude, Borodin, Berio, Byrd, Bruch, Boulez, Boccherini, Bloch, Bizet, Bernstein, and Britten, some better than others.

Originally posted by AttilaTheHorn
Yeah, but there's also Bruckner, Bellini, Buxtehude, Borodin, Berio, Byrd, Bruch, Boulez, Boccherini, Bloch, Bizet, Bernstein, and Britten, some better than others.

I hate Boulez.

That said, I love Bernstein.

Originally posted by scherzo
I hate Boulez.

That said, I love Bernstein.

I heard Boulez do 'The Rakes Progress' around 1971 in Virginia, we were outside the audience proper on a blanket on the grass, I think it was the Cleveland Orchestra. It was magical, he made it into something that reverberates in my memory to this day.

Originally posted by sonhouse
I heard Boulez do 'The Rakes Progress' around 1971 in Virginia, we were outside the audience proper on a blanket on the grass, I think it was the Cleveland Orchestra. It was magical, he made it into something that reverberates in my memory to this day.

Still, not as bad as Steve Reich.

Originally posted by scherzo
Still, not as bad as Steve Reich.

Like his Music for 18 Musicians?
What about Nagoya Guitars? here is a rendition by the Gothenburg combo (where one of my daughter in laws is from!)
YouTube&feature=related
It sure sounds almost like loop music but it seems to grow on one.

Originally posted by sonhouse
Like his Music for 18 Musicians?
What about Nagoya Guitars? here is a rendition by the Gothenburg combo (where one of my daughter in laws is from!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMA8CRyNUMc&feature=related
It sure sounds almost like loop music but it seems to grow on one.

"Come Out" made me insane.