Die Moldau is a programmatic tone poem from the late 19th century by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana. This work is one of the first works by czech composers trying to establish a czech musical identity. Smetana paints a picture of the moldau river as it flows from just being a small tributary to where it meets the ocean. He includes such cultural themes such as a wedding dance and mythical stories of a magic forest inhabited by fairies.
This is a wonderful example of the programmatic tone poems that were so popular during the 19th century. It helps the students to realize that even thought the music does not have words that it can still provoke images. I would also use this to teach students the nationalist function that a lot of music served in the 19th century.
Smetana, Bedrich. Die Moldau. Perf. Norrington, Roger. 1996.
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