In this episode of Sticky Notes, Joshua Weilerstein explores Bedrich Smetana's "Ma Vlast," a collection of symphonic poems celebrating Czech nationalism and homeland. He begins by discussing Smetana's personal connection to Czech identity and his struggle with deafness, which coincided with the composition of the piece. Weilerstein then delves into each of the six movements, providing historical context, Smetana's descriptive notes, and musical analysis, highlighting the use of leitmotifs and the interplay between nationalism and universal themes. He also shares anecdotes, including a defiant performance of the piece in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, and concludes with Semyon Bychkov's perspective on the work's universal appeal.
