by Teri Ong
I am always excited for Loveland Orchestra concert nights, and we have one coming up this Friday (March 8). The unifying theme for this concert season is favorite pieces selected by members of the orchestra. I submitted two, and they both are part of this concert. The first one was “anything by Dvorak.” We are playing his most famous symphony– “From the New World,” which is usually called “The New World Symphony.” It is, however, very old world, since Dvorak was Bohemian born (the western side of what is now the Czech Republic) and spent most of his musical years in Prague. He did spend some time in the United States, even in a small community, Spillville, in Iowa where there was a significant Czech population. I was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where my mother was born and raised. She frequently talked about the Czech food and festivals that were a big part of that city’s culture as well.
My mother, who was a fine violinist and loved classical music, played her LP collection of music by Dvorak on a regular basis. I grew to love it too. When I was accomplished enough to play in the Minnesota All-State Orchestra for two years in high school, we played Dvorak’s 8th symphony and several of his Slavonic Dances. My taste for his music was sealed for life.
But my appreciation for Bohemian/Czech music started much earlier than that. It began around the time I started violin instruction at age 4 and a half. I was not in kindergarten yet, so I did spend some time watching “educational” television, which was as much in its infancy as I was. My sister and I got to watch “Romper Room” hosted by Miss Elaine, and we also got to watch “Captain Kangaroo,” hosted by the good Captain and his sidekick, Mr. Greenjeans.
“Captain Kangaroo” was a variety show for children that included puppet shows, stories, science demonstrations, silly riddles, and for me, one particularly memorable music video. Some beautiful music began with images of rain coming down in a forest. The rain drops trickled off of the trees onto the forest floor and became a small rivulet. The rivulet grew as it was joined by tiny tributaries. Eventually it became a creek, then a small river, then a larger river running through rapids and farmland, past villages. Soon it was a mighty river flowing through a great city. The music ebbed and flowed with the river. It was magnificent and spoke to my childish imagination.
Only later did I learn that the music was called “The Moldau,” after the river it described. The piece was written by a man named Bedrich Smetana, who was a mentor and colleague of Antonin Dvorak.
In all of my years of musical experience, I never had the opportunity to play “The Moldau,” until now– 60 years after my first introduction to the piece. And Friday night, I will get to live again the rain drops in the forest, the river flowing past and through the signs of human life on its banks, and be thrilled as it flows on and on, disappearing into the Elbe. I will be very young again and thrilled with the wonder of the music once more.
Thank you, Loveland Orchestra. Thank you, Maestro Louie!
