hero song hero song czech called heroic song orchestra symphonic poem orchestra composed august october premiered vienna december conducting later published berlin unlike symphonic poems work based specific text intended autobiographical piece energetic triumphant includes slower section containing funeral march typical performance lasts approximately minutes instrumentation symphonic poem scored orchestra horns bass drum triangle strings piece instrumentation significant lacks unusual percussion simpler orchestra orchestral works piece attempt convey story merely portrays contrasting moods despair section triumph history hero song orchestral work final symphonic poems water noon witch wild dove instance writing purely instrumental music dedicated vocal works completion began working piece august immediately act opera work completed months time lived summer residence hometown spent time patron piece completed october year published berlin symphonic poem coincidentally anticipated similar tone poem hero life composed year later fact originally intended title piece hero life suggested pupil work premiered december conducted friend supporter wrote premiere received second work hero song wild dove enchanted present premier planned conduct november cancelled plans sudden nervous breakdown words leave berlin wife seeing piece performed previous day conducted performed london hamburg boston leipzig october november finally able personally conduct piece december year content adapted bohemian folklore compositions previous symphonic poems based actual poems czech poet especially collection ballads hero song broke away pattern symphonic works specify specific accompanying text roughly outlined plot later letter lack fixed programme reason relative neglect compared symphonic works suggested work intended autobiographical unusual approach symphonic poem pursued view genre works based eerie subjects appropriate conception hero song musically structured like movement symphony beginning con transitioning slow including concluding coda piece based short energetic theme flat minor played start piece theme featured forms section following slow section marked quiet music hero grief includes funeral march musical form requiem piano hero recovers grief mood music gradually goes flat major leading dance like finally triumph hero represented victorious coda piece run time approximately minutes popular symphonic poems hero song described energy musically rich siblings written year earlier section sadness longing character described variation style slight influence noted funeral march ending compared patriotic music
A Hero's Song