The Noon Witch
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The Noon Witch (or The Noonday Witch), Op. 108/ B 196, is a symphonic poem (tone poem) by Antonín Dvořák inspired by a poem by Karel Erben. Its based on the poem Polednice from Erben's collection of poems, Kytice. Polednice is based on the noon demon is slavic mythology referred to in English as Lady midday.
A mother warns her son that, if he does not behave himself, the noon witch will come and take him away. In fact, the child does not listen and the witch comes at the stroke of noon. Soon afterwards, the father arrives to see his wife who has fainted with the dead body of their little son in her arms.
The Noon Witch was written in 1896 and premiered late that year under the baton of Henry Wood. The piece lasts about 13 minutes.
[edit] External links
- Classical Public Radio Network on a recording of The Noon Witch
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