1. How effective is the representation of the streams that are the source of the Moldau River? If they didn’t know the program of this work, would they recognize the opening as representing small mountain streams?
2. How does Smetana’s orchestra compare to that of Berlioz? Is it a large group with a wide variety of instruments? Do particular instruments, rhythms, or melodies give “The Moldau” a particularly Bohemian flavor?
3. Ask your students how they might approach creating a nationalistic work. What materials, melodies, or rhythms would they use to indicate a truly American spirit? Are there melodies they know that could be used as themes to create a distinctly American music? Do they know any Appalachian folk music/ What about bluegrass or country music? Could a jazz or rock tune be incorporated into a programmatic work?