As we drove up to school this morning we were listening to Classic FM, as we do. Kids were wittering on about listening to the local pop station but suddenly up came The Moldau by Smetana. I think of all the music I’ve listened to over the years this probably speaks to me more closely that any other.
In essence the ‘story’ of the piece which only lasts some 10 – 12 minutes is the life history of the river Vltava from its birth as in two small streams, one cold, one warm which join and flow through the countryside down to the Elbe.
Having said this, somehow I see it as more than that. To me it has two deeper meanings. For a start I hear it as an allegory on the story of life from the beginnings as an innocent child playing, learning and growing; working through adolescence into maturity then reaching fulfilment at the end of its course as it joins the greater stream of time. Then there is the way two people start as individuals, meet and become a couple, again growing and developing as one until they too melt into the greater stream of time melding their joint lives into the greater whole.
I would never claim to be an expert in music but for me this piece says it all. I’ll repeat what I’ve said in the past, if I get a funeral when it’s my turn to drift off into that great river I’d like some or all of this to be played… it’s only 12 minutes go to whoa so even the services that get held at a gallop might accommodate this? 🙂
The Eclectic Interweb 