Classic Ross Amico

Tag: The Golden Spinning Wheel

Erben’s Dark Tales A Mother’s Day Scare

Happy Mother’s Day!

Perhaps it’s a good thing I am not a parent; otherwise I’d scare the bejesus out of my kids with stories from Karel Jaromir Erben’s “Kytice,” or “Bouquet.”

Like the Brothers Grimm in Germany, Erben synthesized native folk tales into often gruesome fairy stories. In doing so, he became an important figure in the establishment of a Czech national identity. His stories are recited by Czech schoolchildren and recalled proudly by the Czech people. Despite its influence, “Kytice” did not appear in a complete English translation until 2013.

Antonin Dvořák was particularly fond of Erben’s tales. In 1896, he composed a series of symphonic poems after Erben ballads, including “The Water Goblin,” “The Noon Witch” and “The Wood Dove.” Erben’s influence also hangs over Dvořák’s most famous opera, “Rusalka.”

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we salute Erben with two Dvořák works: the symphonic poem “The Golden Spinning Wheel,” and the final scene from the dramatic cantata “The Spectre’s Bride.”

“The Golden Spinning Wheel” is a Cinderella story gone very, very wrong, as a wicked stepmother and stepsister not only murder but dismember an unfortunate maiden favored by the king. Not to give too much away, but the titular appliance proves to be their undoing.

“The Spectre’s Bride” is another in the seemingly infinite variations on the tale of a young woman being swept off by the ghost of her lover. The climax of Dvořák’s cantata places the heroine in a cottage besieged by howling spirits, as a corpse on the table, prepared for burial, stirs to do their bidding.

It’s not exactly “Songs My Mother Taught Me.” Join me, if you dare, for “Erben Legends,” as we celebrate Karel Jaromir Erben on Mother’s Day, this Sunday night at 10:00 EDT on WWFM The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

For Mom

For violin

May 8, 2022
Dvořák’s Dark Side Erben’s Spooky Tales

Hot on the heels of Rusalka Week – a time when Slavic naiads roam free, luring unsuspecting men to a watery grave – we cast a wary eye upon Karl Jaromir Erben.

Erben (1811-1870) served as a kind of Brothers Grimm to the Czech people, synthesizing works based on folkloric themes into gruesome ballads full of witches, goblins, and ghosts. Most of these were collected into a lurid, if poetic, little volume titled “Kytice,” or “Bouquet.” The tales, recited by generations of schoolchildren, were embraced as a kind of celebration of Czech national identity.

Antonín Dvořák was most susceptible. Bohemia’s greatest composer wrote a surprising number of pieces inspired by Erben’s grisly tales, including the symphonic poems “The Water Goblin,” “The Noon Witch,” and “The Wood Dove.” Erben’s influence also looms over Dvořák’s most famous opera, “Rusalka.”

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we’ll salute Erben with two selections by Dvořák: the symphonic poem “The Golden Spinning Wheel” and the spine-tingling graveyard scene from the dramatic cantata “The Spectre’s Bride.”

“The Golden Spinning Wheel” is a Cinderella story gone very, very wrong, as a wicked stepmother and stepsister not only murder, but dismember an unfortunate maiden favored by the king. Naturally – or perhaps supernaturally – they overplay their hand, and the titular appliance proves their undoing.

“The Spectre’s Bride” is another of the seemingly infinite variations on the tale of a young woman borne away by the ghost of her lover. The climax of Dvořák’s cantata deposits the heroine in a cottage besieged by howling spirits, as a corpse on the table, prepared for burial, stirs to do their bidding.

It’s a long, long way from Dvořák’s “Slavonic Dances.” Join me for “Erben Legends” – a celebration of Karel Jaromir Erben – this Sunday night at 10:00 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

June 9, 2019
Dvořák’s Dark Tales Erben’s Haunting “Bouquet”

Hallowe’en comes early, this Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” as we listen to music inspired by stories from Karel Jaromir Erben’s “Kytice,” or “Bouquet.”

Like the Brothers Grimm in Germany, Erben synthesized native folk tales into often gruesome fairy stories. In doing so, he became an important figure in the establishment of a Czech national identity. His stories are recited by Czech schoolchildren and recalled proudly by the Czech people. Despite its influence, “Kytice” did not appear in a complete English translation until 2013.

Antonin Dvořák was particularly fond of Erben’s tales. In 1896, he composed a series of symphonic poems after Erben ballads, including “The Water Goblin,” “The Noon Witch” and “The Wood Dove.” Erben’s influence also hangs over Dvořák’s most famous opera, “Rusalka.”

We’ll salute Erben with two Dvořák works: the symphonic poem “The Golden Spinning Wheel,” and the final scene from the dramatic cantata “The Spectre’s Bride.”

“The Golden Spinning Wheel” is a Cinderella story gone very, very wrong, as a wicked stepmother and stepsister not only murder but dismember an unfortunate maiden favored by the king. Not to give too much away, but the titular appliance proves their undoing.

“The Spectre’s Bride” is another in the seemingly infinite variations on the tale of a young woman being swept off by the ghost of her lover. The climax of Dvořák’s cantata places the heroine in a cottage besieged by howling spirits, as a corpse on the table, prepared for burial, stirs to do their bidding.

Forget Dvořák’s “Slavonic Dances.” Join me for “Erben Legends,” as we celebrate Karel Jaromir Erben, this Sunday night at 10 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

August 21, 2016
Erben’s Dark Tales Inspiring Dvořák for Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day! Perhaps it’s a good thing I am not a parent; otherwise I would scare the bejesus out of my kids with stories from Karel Jaromir Erben’s “Kytice,” or “Bouquet.”

Like the Brothers Grimm in Germany, Erben synthesized native folk tales into often gruesome fairy stories. In doing so, he became an important figure in the establishment of a Czech national identity. His stories are recited by Czech schoolchildren and recalled proudly by the Czech people. Despite its influence, “Kytice” did not appear in a complete English translation until 2013.

Antonin Dvořák was particularly fond of Erben’s tales. In 1896, he composed a series of symphonic poems after Erben ballads, including “The Water Goblin,” “The Noon Witch” and “The Wood Dove.” Erben’s influence also hangs over Dvořák’s most famous opera, “Rusalka.”

This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we salute Erben with two Dvořák works: the symphonic poem “The Golden Spinning Wheel,” and the final scene from the dramatic cantata “The Spectre’s Bride.”

“The Golden Spinning Wheel” is a Cinderella story gone very, very wrong, as a wicked stepmother and stepsister not only murder but dismember an unfortunate maiden favored by the king. Not to give too much away, but the titular appliance proves their undoing.

“The Spectre’s Bride” is another in the seemingly infinite variations on the tale of a young woman being swept off by the ghost of her lover. The climax of Dvořák’s cantata places the heroine in a cottage besieged by howling spirits, as a corpse on the table, prepared for burial, stirs to do their bidding.

Forget Dvořák’s “Songs My Mother Taught Me.” Join me for “Erben Legends,” as we celebrate Karel Jaromir Erben, this Mother’s Day at 10 ET, with a repeat Thursday at 11, or listen to it later as a webcast at http://www.wwfm.org.

May 11, 2014

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