The Moldau for Early Intermediate Piano

The Moldau theme is one of the most beautiful -- and irresistable -- melodies in Romantic orchestral literature. Even if you don't listen to much classical music, you are likely to have heard this piece if you have ever taken a music literature class.

This is such a beautiful, contagious piece of music. Most particularly with the broken chord pattern that mimics the sound of rushing, flowing water in the original piece, it is irresistable in its forward movement.

In spite of the pretty melody line, I couldn't get kids real excited about polishing the first level of this piece, or going on to harder versions, until I added words to it. Yes, the words of the two verses may seem a trifle obvious ("It's a river! Flowing through ancient Bohemia!") but the mention of castles, mermaids, and old legends are just enough to engage the imagination of children and hook them into the intricacies of the melody twists.



Download free printable piano music The Moldau

Putting right hand together with a moving left hand is a big step -- it doesn't really happen in the Faber method books until Level 2B - 3. Up until then, it's pretty much one hand at a time. Therefore, I like to treat this piece as a duet at first; them on one hand, I on the other. Then we switch when they have gotten used to the sounds of the harmony. This easier left hand version below might be a good in-between compromise until they can coordinate the two hands. It is well for them to be acquainted with the A and Bb chords.



Download easier left hand version

"The Moldau" is actually the German name for the river memorialized by Smetana, a composer from Czechoslovakia (the Czech Republic, now). Apparently the river flows through both Germany and what was once Bohemia (C.R.), and naturally, the world of music being what it is, it was the German name that stuck. (Think of Edvard Grieg's Norwegian songs, sung mostly in German.)

I like to introduce pianists to classical literature early on, because even if they've learned only only an easy version of a piece, they are more likely to want to listen to "difficult" or "serious" music later on if they have that moment of "Aha! -- I KNOW this music!"

I do have a much longer, fuller piano arrangement that includes the change to the major key. It is also much harder, but very exciting! (That particular arrangement is for sale only.)