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Antonin Dvorak: Difference between revisions
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Antonín Dvořák (to avoid possible embarrassment, it's Dvor-zhak, not Dvor-rak) lived September 8, 1841 – May 1, 1904. The most famous of Czech composers, Dvořák's musical idiom is infused with the traditions of his native Bohemia. In addition to this musical nationalism, Dvořák also exemplified many other characteristics of the late Romantic period, including writing for large orchestras, lush melody, and powerful, emotion climaxes. The influence of Brahms shows on Dvořák in that Dvořák declined to assign programs to his symphonies and often used classical forms. On the other hand, the Wagnerian influence also strongly manifests itself in Dvořák, especially in the tone poems and operas. Dvořák, a prolific composer, created works in almost all genres. These include 9 symphonies, a piano, cello and violin concerto, 10 operas, numerous religious works, several string quartets and other chamber works, and many attractive small scale pieces like the Slavonic Dances. These 16 short pieces based on Bohemian folk tunes helped launch Dvořák's career and were inspired by Brahms's similar Hungarian Dances.
By far the most popular of Dvořák's works is the Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World." The heart-wrenchingly beautiful, utterly sublime, too magnificent for human ears "Largo" ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYl4Xb4cDQ8 Listen here]) from this symphony has become a popular [[Standard Snippet]]. Dvořák wrote the symphony while staying in the United States, during which Dvořák studied and admired African American spirituals. Many scholars have argued that the exquisitely noble themes of the "Largo" are in fact based on spirituals, though Dvořák always denied this. Music from the exciting and powerful [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctfXIqugXc&feature=related last movement] of this symphony was later stolen by [[John Williams]] for use in ''[[Jaws (
Dvořák's other two popular symphonies are Symphony No. 7 in D minor of 1885, Op. 70 and Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88. The latter contains another one of Dvorak's lovely slow movements. All of Dvořák's symphonies are worth checking out, those the last three are the ones most often performed and recorded.
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