Dvorak - Symphonic Poems [Kosler-Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra]Here's a great set of Dvorak's 5 Symphonic Poems, i have other sets as well, but this set includes the Symphonic Variations, a very underestimated set of Orchestral Variations, i spoke about these in March [28th March 2010].
I really like the Noon Witch, it's the shortest of the five at 15 minutes, it's a sad but sober tale of child that just won't be quiet, so the Mother threatens the child with 'if you don't keep quiet, the Noon Witch will take you away', well it works for a while, but eventually the Noon Witch appears in the doorway, 'give me your child!', it's very nice the way the music fits the poem.
It starts with a Mother happy in her chores, but the child's cries keep interrupting her [0:00-1:05], the mother scolds her child [1:06-2:01], in a nice lively section, and the child quietens down, but the whole thing repeats itself [2:50-4:45], this time the Mother threatens the child with the Noon Witch [5:17-6:21], a nice eerie piece of disquiet, with the bass clarinet [Witch] menacingly in the background, but the Noon Witch actually turns up at the door outside! [6:22-6:57], the door is flung open [6:58+] 'give me your child' the Witch demands on trumpet and trombone, this section is stated twice, there seems to be a soliloquy for the dead/dying child [12:06-13:02], mourned by the child's cor anglais, right at the end the Father comes home from work, only to find his wife collapsed with the child in her arms, which turns out to be dead, at tremendous forte they grieve [13:46+], but you can hear the Witch theme [14:01+], as the Witch gets the last laugh, 'ive got you child!', the best bit is the eerie appearance of the Witch and her demand [5:17-9:31].
Here's Akira Mori conducting The Noon Witch on YouTube.
