Looking for the music? Go straight to minute 3:48 for Sur les berges du Saint-Laurent and 14:21 for Ma Vlast, Vltava (The Moldau)

Something in the Water?

Rivers have long inspired composers to write about them through music. National Geographic defines a river as a ribbon-like body of water that flows downhill from the force of gravity. It can be wide and deep, or shallow enough for a person to wade across.

But a river can also define land, borders and culture. The Vltava, also known by its German name, Moldau, is the longest river running through the Czech Republic. In this episode we play for you Smetana’s symphonic tone poem about his native land -- in a journey down this river. The Ottawa Symphony first played this in 1991, under the baton of music director David Currie, while this recording is from November 2016, and the performance conducted by Music Director, Alain Trudel.

But before we set out on that Bohemian journey, we’re staycationing close to home, as we must in these times. Sur les berges du Saint-Laurent by Ottawa composer Victor Herbiet, was premiered by the Ottawa Symphony in the fall of 2019, lead by guest conductor, Jean-Francois Rivest. Sit back as we travel up the St-Lawrence...and beyond!

About the Composers

Bedřich Smetana (2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style that became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He has been regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music. Internationally he is best known for his opera The Bartered Bride and for the symphonic cycle Má vlast ("My Homeland"), which portrays the history, legends and landscape of the composer's native Bohemia. It contains the famous symphonic poem "Vltava", also known by its English name "The Moldau".

—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed%C5%99ich_Smetana

Victor Herbiet studied saxophone with Peter Smith and Noël Samyn and composition with Steven Gellman at the University of Ottawa where he obtained a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in saxophone performance. After serving with the Canadian Forces music branch between 1999 and 2011, Victor reoriented his career towards solo performance, education and composition. By blending the idioms of twelve-tone music with other styles such as French impressionism, Canadian folk, American jazz and Latin music, Victor creates a musical language that is accessible and interesting for diverse audiences. His works have been performed in North and South America, Europe and East Asia and have received accolades from performers and audiences alike. His most recent compositions for solo saxophone and clarinet were featured as compulsory works for the 2019 Saxiana International Competition in France, to which he was invited as adjudicator. 

Victor is currently adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Music. He publishes his compositions through Gérard Billaudot, Dorn Publications and the Canadian Music Centre. Victor has been playing principal saxophone with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra since 2007.

Curators | Nos conservateurs

Dr. David Gardner
Ottawa Symphony Historian | Historien de l’ Orchestre symphonique d’ Ottawa

Alain Trudel
Ottawa Symphony Music Director | directeur musicale

Read All About It!

Read the programme notes written by Dr. David Gardner

The Emergency Relief Fund of the Musicians’ Association of Local 180 (Ottawa-Gatineau) supports local musicians affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

To help, go to: ma180.org