BALLYGOWAN FLUTE BAND
Bedřich Smetana was born in modern day Czech Republic in 1824. He was a natural on the piano and at the age of six, gave his first public performance. He studied music in Prague but could not find work there, so he left for Sweden where he worked as a teacher and choirmaster. When he eventually returned to his native Praque, he was quite prolific, and he made a reputation for himself as the father of Czech music. His best known works are his opera “The Bartered Bride” and Ma Vlast (My Motherland),.
The music charted the river Vltava (or Moldau) from its source in the Bohemian Mountains until it flowed into the River Elba -
Smetana suffered quite some criticism in later life, which may well have affected his health -