Music

Antonín Dvořák

1841–1904 · Czech

Romantic (nationalist)

Dvořák was the leading Czech composer of the late nineteenth century, blending Bohemian folk rhythms and melodies with the classical forms championed by his friend and supporter Brahms. His years in America (1892–1895) produced the "New World" Symphony, the "American" Quartet and the Cello Concerto.

How to spot them

▸Warm, lyrical melodies with a folk-dance lilt — furiants, dumkas and polkas
▸Clue patterns: Bohemia, Brahms and the publisher Simrock, New York's National Conservatory, Spillville in Iowa
▸The cor anglais Largo of the 'New World' Symphony (the UK Hovis advert tune)

Key works — listen

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World" (1893)

Written in America; famous cor anglais Largo and a thunderous finale

Recording: Antonin Dvorak (composer) · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Slavonic Dances, Opp. 46 and 72 (1878; 1886)

Two sets of eight dances, first for piano duet, that made his name internationally

Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 (1894–1895)

Arguably the greatest cello concerto of the Romantic era

Recording: Antonín Dvořák · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 "American" (1893)

Composed in a few days in the Czech community of Spillville, Iowa

Rusalka, Op. 114 (1900–1901)

Fairy-tale opera about a water nymph; contains the 'Song to the Moon'

Recording: Antonín Dvořák · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Humoresque in G-flat major, Op. 101 No. 7 (1894)

Jaunty, much-arranged piano miniature

Recording: Antonín Dvořák · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quick-fire facts

•He was born in Nelahozeves, near Prague, in Bohemia (then part of the Austrian Empire).
•He was director of the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York from 1892 to 1895.
•The 'New World' Symphony was premiered at Carnegie Hall in December 1893 by the New York Philharmonic.
•Brahms recommended him to the publisher Simrock, who commissioned the Slavonic Dances.
•The Largo of the 'New World' Symphony was used in the famous 1973 Hovis 'boy on the bike' TV advert.
•He played viola in the Provisional Theatre orchestra in Prague, sometimes under Smetana.
•He was a keen railway enthusiast and pigeon fancier.

Drill it — 9 cards

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Sources

Grove Music Online (Oxford Music Online) — Dvořák, Antonín
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Antonín Dvořák
Wikipedia — Antonín Dvořák