4 Pastorelli - MVSR2558 | Musica

In literature, the term “pastorale” appears in the form of a pastoral poem, which was very common in medieval times. Those romantic texts tell the story of a knight who courts a beautiful shepherdess (Latin “Pastora”) in a rural idyll. Pastoral motifs on paintings show romantic scenes in the life of shepherds. In music, pastorals became very popular in the Baroque period. Pieces of this genre are of light and idyllic character and mostly stand in triplet meters (e.g. 6/8, 9/8 or 3/4 time). Simple melodic lines express the unspoiled beauty of nature. A very famous example is Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 op. 68 “Pastorale” in F major. The composer put his impressions of a rural setting into music.

In “4 Pastorelli” Pavel Staněk presents the wind orchestra in a very transparent and chamber music way. With his incomparable style of instrumentation and sense for melody he created four charming little pieces, most effective when played as a complete work. Wonderfully intertwining simple melodies convey a peaceful and idyllic atmosphere. The first movement “Allegretto moderato” is a short piece in 3/4 time with a soft and lovely melody. In the second movement “Animato” – also in 3/4 time – you can almost see a pleasant rustic dance with a strongly emphasized first beat and a cheerful impression. The third movement “Moderato” in 2/4 time and written in a minor key contrasts with the other movements and is of a melancholy sentiment. The short final movement “Allegretto” is in 3/4 time again and leads “4 Pastorelli” to a beautiful, idyllic ending.