A great composer of the Romantic era was the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. One of his works in the category of choral religious music is the work on the subject of St. Ludmila of Bohemia. Ludmila lived in the 9th century AD. She married the Duke of Bohemia and the couple embraced Christianity. Then they tried to spread Christianity in Bohemia. Ludmila raised her grandson Wenceslas as a Christian. Initially, she lost her husband and later she lost her son, who was the father of Wenceslas. After those tragic incidents, Drahomira who was her dead son’s wife and the mother of Wenceslas got Ludmila killed. Drahomira was jealous of the Christian influence Ludmilla had on Wenceslas.
Ludmila's life was a source of inspiration for Dvorak, who creates a musical work loaded with strong emotions. This choral work recalls the struggle that Christ's love gives against man's envy and jealousy.
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