Dvořák: “The Water Goblin“, Op. 107, B. 195 (with Score)

Antonín Dvořák: Symphonic Poem “The Water Goblin (Vodník) “, Op. 107, B. 195 (with Score) Composed: 6 January - 11 February 1896 Conductor: Bohumil Gregor Orchestra: Česká filharmonie The Water Goblin (Vodník) is a symphonic poem, Op. 107 (B. 195), written by Antonín Dvořák in 1896. The source of inspiration for The Water Goblin was a poem found in a collection published by Karel Jaromír Erben under the title Kytice. Four of the six symphonic poems that Dvořák composed were inspired by works of poetry found in that collection. The work had its full public premiere in London on 14 November 1896. It had received a semi-public performance on 1 June 1896 at the Prague Conservatory under Antonín Bennewitz. 0:03 Allegro vivace: The water goblin (flutes) alone. 1:54 Andante sostenuto: The girl (clarinet) and her mother (violins), who tells the girl of a bad dream and warns her not to go near the lake. 5:11 Allegro vivo: The girl ignores the warning (violins and oboes) and falls into the lake, and into the hands of the water goblin. 6:54 Andante mesto come prima: The misery of the underwater world. 9:39 Un poco più lento e molto tranquillo: the girl sings a lullaby for her baby (flute and oboe). 11:26 Andante: The water goblin tells her to stop singing in a fury and they have a quarrel, which ends that the girl is permitted to go visit her mother, but has to be back before the bells of the vespers. 14:43 Lento assai: The girl goes home to her mother (cellos and trombones), where they have a sad reunion. 16:52 Allegro vivace: The storm on the lake, the church bells are heard after which knocking on the door and eventually a loud bang when the goblin throws the dead child against the door. 19:15 Andante sostenuto: croaking frogs (piccolo and flutes), the mother’s moaning about that Friday, which was an unlucky day (cor anglais and bass clarinet), the mother’s terrible distress (oboes, cellos and basses). The water goblin’s mysterious disappearance into the depth of the lake.