The Aquarius (Dvořák)

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The Aquarius (Vodník) op.107 is a symphonic poem by the composer Antonín Dvořák .

Emergence

After Dvořák returned from teaching at the US National Conservatory of Music in his homeland, the composer wrote several symphonic poems which - with the exception of Heldenlied , for which Dvořák developed his own program - on materials from the ballad collection »Kytice« ( bouquet of flowers ) of the Czech poet Karel Jaromír heirs .

To the music

occupation

Piccolo , two flutes , two oboes , English horn , two clarinets , bass clarinet , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , two tubas , kettledrum , bass drum , cymbals , triangle , gong , bells and strings .

content

A girl is kidnapped by Aquarius while washing clothes at the lake and has to live with him underwater. He becomes pregnant and gives birth to a child. When she wants to visit her mother, she has to leave the child with Aquarius as a pledge. After the deadline has expired and the girl has not returned, the Aquarius kills the child out of anger and throws his body in front of the mother's door.

The motif of the piece, designed as a rondo , consists of a rhythmic ostinato and represents the Aquarius and at the same time forms the basis for all of the themes contained in The Aquarius . This makes it clear that the fate of the girl and her mother is at the mercy of the actions of Aquarius. The killing of the child carried out by him is represented with appropriate musical means, but is offset by a conciliatory conclusion.

effect

Aquarius was premiered by Anton Bennewitz together with Die Mittagshexe (op. 108) and The golden spinning wheel (op. 109) on June 3, 1896 in the Prague Conservatory. This private event was followed by performances by Henry Wood and Hans Richter in London.

supporting documents

  • Christoph Hahn, Siegmar Hohl (ed.): Bertelsmann concert guides, composers and their works . Bertelsmann, Gütersloh / Munich 1993, ISBN 3-570-10519-9 .
  • Klaus Stübler (Ed.): Harenberg Konzertführer , Meyers, Mannheim / Leipzig / Vienna / Zurich 2004, ISBN 978-3-411-76105-0 .

Web links