In late September 1874, shortly after losing his hearing, Smetana started work on “Vyšehrad”, the first symphonic poem in what would become a six-part cycle with the title “Má vlast” (My Country). It tells the eventful history of this ...

Following the “Carnival of the Animals” edition, Jennifer Seubel has now set her sights on the “Moldau”. The major stopping points in the course of the music have been insightfully and faithfully translated for two flutes. Here advanced students ...

Smetana’s piano sketch Macbeth, also known as Macbeth and the Witches, after William Shakespeare’s tragedy, originated in 1859 while the composer was living in Sweden. Some scholars believe that it was meant to be scored for full orchestra. ...

The first four symphonic poems from Smetana’s six-part cycle Má vlast (My Country) were written in 1874–75 and arranged for piano duet shortly after the completion of the fourth part, From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields. All six parts were ...

Composed in January–February 1875, Šárka is the third symphonic poem in Smetana’s six-part cycle Má vlast (My Fatherland). He first published it in a version for piano-duet issued by publisher Urbánek in 1880. The score ...