How Bedřich Smetana composed a national masterpiece while losing his hearing entirely
In short: Bedřich Smetana’s Má vlast is a cycle of six symphonic poems celebrating Bohemian history and landscape. Conceived between 1874 and 1879, the work remains a pillar of Czech identity. Remarkably, Smetana composed much of this monumental cycle while suffering from a rapid, total loss of hearing that began in 1874.
Smetana began his descent into deafness during the summer of 1874, experiencing anomalous noises and permanent buzzing before losing hearing in his right ear in early October and his left by 20 October. Despite this, he completed the six-part cycle between 1874 and 1879. The works were premiered individually between 1875 and 1880, with the complete set first performed on 5 November 1882 at Prague's Žofín Palace under conductor Adolf Čech.
The cycle is a masterclass in tone painting. In 'Vltava', Smetana depicts the river's course from its two small springs through woods, meadows, and a wedding celebration, eventually passing the Vyšehrad castle. The melody itself has a storied history, sharing roots with the Italian 'La Mantovana' and the Israeli national anthem 'Hatikvah'. Other movements explore darker legends, such as 'Šárka', where a warrior maiden lures a knight to his death, and 'Tábor', which utilizes the Hussite hymn 'Ktož jsú boží bojovníci'.
The structure of Má vlast is deeply interconnected. The four-note motif representing the Vyšehrad castle appears at the end of 'Vltava' and returns to conclude 'Blaník'. Similarly, the final two poems, 'Tábor' and 'Blaník', function as a cohesive pair. 'Blaník' begins where 'Tábor' leaves off, continuing the narrative of the Hussite wars and referencing the legend of a sleeping army of knights waiting to defend the nation. Since 1952, the cycle has traditionally opened the Prague Spring International Music Festival on 12 May, the anniversary of the composer's death.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Má vlast
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