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Antonín Dvořák
(1841 – 1904)
belongs among exceptional personalities of Czech and international music and together with Bedřich Smetana is the founder of modern Czech music. Already during his life he enjoyed a great international acclaim, which enhanced considerably the prestige of Czech culture and the Czech nation. His pedagogical work at the National Conservatory of Music in New York from 1892 till 1895 also influenced the development of American music.
The largest part of his work are instrumental pieces (symphonic, chamber as well as solo ones), his songs, religious and vocal compositions as well as operas are of the same importance. Dvořák´s music excels in rich and original melodic invention often referring to folk roots, marked rhythm and colourful instrumentation.
As the first-born son he was to take over his father´s profession as a butcher. Nevertheless, his outstanding talent and the family musical background led him to music as early as in his childhood in his birthplace Nelahozeves. He received further musical education during his stay in Zlonice and Česká Kamenice, later he studied at the Prague Organ School (1857-59). Then he played the viola in Komzák´s Band with which he joined the Orchestra of the Provisional Theatre. There he played also under the baton of Bedřich Smetana. From 1874 till 1877 he was organist in the Church of St. Adalbert. From 1875 till 1878 he received the Austrian State Stipendium. Apart from others the composer Johannes Brahms and the critic Eduard Hanslick were among the committee which awarded this stipendium. Upon Brahms´s recommendation the Berlin publisher Fritz Simrock published Dvořák´s Moravian Duets. Following their success he commissioned the Slavonic Dances. That meant the beginning of the composer´s European and later international career. After Germany his music was played in England. In March 1884 he went on his first tour there. His contacts with England culminated in November 1890 when he was appointed Honorary Doctor of Cambridge University.
In 1891 he became professor of composition at Prague Conservatory. A year later he accepted the invitation of Jeanette Thurber, the founder of the National Conservatory of Music in New York to be its director, teach composition and conduct the school orchestra. When he returned to Prague he continued teaching at Prague Conservatory later to become its artistic director. He received numerous distinctions (honorary doctorate of philosophy from Charles University in Prague, he was a member of the Parliament, a member of the jury for the Austrian State Awards, an honorary member of many Czech and Moravian glee clubs, etc.). The best part of Antonín Dvořák´s compositions has been included in the essential repertory of leading international orchestras, opera houses, solo and chamber artists.
The works by Antonín Dvořák
I. Stage Works
Alfred, 1870
The King and the Charcoal Burner, 1871, 2nd version - op. 14, 1874
The Stubborn Lovers, op. 17, 1874
Vanda, op. 25, 1875
The Cunning Peasant, op. 37, 1877
Dimitri, op. 64, 1882, 2nd version - 1894
The Jacobin, op. 84, 1888, 1897 (partly re-written)
Kate and the Devil, op. 112, 1899
Rusalka, op. 114, 1900
Armida, op. 115, 1903
II. Oratorios, Cantatas
The Heirs of the White Mountain, op. 30, 1872 (re-written 1880 and 1885)
Stabat Mater, op. 58, 1877
Psalm 149, op. 79, 1879 (1887 re-written for mixed choir and orchestra)
The Specter´s Bride, op. 69, 1884
St. Ludmila, op. 71, 1886
Mass in D major, op. 86, 1887 (version with organ accompaniment), 1892 (with orchestra)
Requiem, op. 89, 1890
Te Deum, op. 103, 1892
The American Flag, op. 102, 1893
Ode (Festival Song), op. 113, 1900
III. Orchestral Works
a) Symphonies
1. C minor "The Bells of Zlonice", 1865
2. B flat major, op. 4, 1865
3. E flat major, op. 10, 1873
4. D minor, op. 13, 1874
5. F major, op. 76, 1875
6. D major, op. 60, 1880
7. D minor, op. 70, 1885
8. G major, op. 88, 1889
9. E minor "From the New World", op.95, 1893
b) Serenades and Suites
Serenade in E major for strings, op. 22, 1875
Serenade in D minor for winds, cello and contrabass, op. 44, 1878
Czech Suite, op. 39, 1879
Suite in A major, op. 98B, 1895
c) Concertos and Concert Pieces
Concerto in A major for cello and piano, 1865
Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra, op. 11, 1873/1877
Piano Concerto in G minor, op. 33, 1876
Mazurek for violin and orchestra, op. 49, 1879
Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 53, 1879 (revised 1880)
Rondo in G minor for cello and orchestra, op. 94, 1893
Silent Woods for cello and orchestra, op. 68/5, 1893
Cello Concerto in B minor, op. 104, 1895
d) Symphonic Poems, Rhapsodies and Overtures
Tragic (Dramatic) Overture (overture to opera Alfred), 1870
Symphonic Poem (Rhapsody in A minor), op. 14, 1874
Slavonic Rhapsodies, op. 45 (D major, G minor, A flat major), 1878
Vanda Overture, 1879
My Home Overture, 1882
Hussite Overture, op. 67, 1883
In Nature´s Realm, op. 91, 1891 (Nature, Life, Love - No.1)
Carnival, op. 92, 1891 (Nature, Life, Love - No.2)
Othello, op. 93, 1891(Nature, Life, Love - No.3)
The Water Goblin, symphonic poem, op. 107, 1896
The Noon Witch, symphonic poem, op. 108, 1896
The Golden Spinning Wheel, symphonic poem, op. 109, 1896
The Wild Dove, symphonic poem, op. 110, 1896
Hero´s Song, op. 111, 1899
e) Dances
Slavonic Dances, op. 46 - I., 1878, op. 72 - II., 1887
Prague Waltzes, 1879
f) Varia
Symphonic Variations, op. 78, 1877
Legends, op. 59, 1881
Scherzo capriccioso, op. 66, 1883
IV. Chamber Music - selection of the most famous pieces
a) Sextet - String Sextet in A major, op. 48, 1878
b) Quintets - String Quintet in G minor with contrabass, op. 77, 1875
Piano Quintet in A major, op. 81, 1887
String Quintet in E flat major, op. 97, 1893
c) String Quartets - 9. D minor, op. 34, 1877
10. E flat major "Slavonic", op. 51, 1879
11. C major, op. 61, 1881
12. F major "American", op. 96, 1893
13. G major, op. 106, 1895
14. A flat major, op. 105, 1895
d) Other Quartets - Cypresses (12 songs re-written for string quartet), 1887
Piano Quartet in D major, op. 23, 1875
Piano Quartet in E flat major, op. 87, 1889
Bagatelles (two violins, cello, harmonium), op. 47, 1878
e) Piano Trios - G minor, op. 26, 1876
F minor, op. 65, 1883
Dumky Trio, op. 90, 1890
f) Violin and Piano - Romance, op. 11, 1873/77 (also version for orchestra)
Nocturne in B minor, op. 40, 1875/83 (also version for orchestra)
Capriccio, 1878
Mazurek, op. 49, 1879
Sonata in F major, op. 57, 1880
Ballad, op. 15/I, 1884
Romantic Pieces, op. 75, 1887
Sonatina in G major, op. 100, 1894
g) Cello and Piano - Polonaise in A major, 1879
Rondo in G minor, op. 94, 1891 (also version for orchestra)
Silent Woods, op. 68/V, 1891
V. Piano Works
a) solo - Scottish Dances, op. 41, 1877
Furiants, op. 42, 1878
Silhouettes , op. 8, 1879
Waltzes, op. 54, 1880
Eclogues, op. 56, 1880
Piano Pieces, op. 52, 1880
Mazurkas, op. 56, 1880
Dumka and Furiant, op. 12, 1884
Poetic Tone-Pictures, op. 85, 1889
Suite in A major, op. 98, 1894 (later also version for orchestra)
Humoresques, op. 101 (the most famous No.7 in G flat major)
b) four hands - Slavonic Dances, op. 46 - I., 1878, op. 72 - II. , 1886
Legends, op. 59, 1881
From the Bohemian Forest, op. 68, 1884
VI. Vocal Works
a) Voice and Piano - Cypresses, 1865, unpublished
Songs from the Králův Dvůr Manuscript, op. 7, 1872
Three New Greek Songs, op. 50, 1878
Gypsy Songs, op. 55, 1880 (No. 4 When My Old Mother)
InFolk Tone, op.73, 1886
Four Songs, op. 82, 1888 ( No.1 Lasst mich allein)
Love Songs, op.83, 1888(No.2 V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest)
Biblical Songs, op. 99, 1894 (No.4 Lord is My Shepherd)
b) Voice and Organ - Ave Maria, op. 19B, 1877
Ave Maris Stella, op. 19B, 1879
c) Duets - Moravian Duets, op. 20 (soprano, tenor + piano), 1875
Moravian Duets, op. 29, 32 (soprano, alto + piano), 1876
Moravian Duets, op. 38 (soprano, alto + piano), 1877
d) Choruses: Female - Moravian Duets (adapted from op. 29, 32), 1880
Male - Bouquet of Czech Folk Songs, op. 41, 1877
Bouquet of Slavonic Folk Songs, op. 43, 1878
Five Lithuanian Choruses, op. 27, 1878
Mixed - Four Choruses, op. 29, 1876
In Nature´s Realm, op. 63, 1882
Hymn of the Czech Peasants, op. 28, 1885 (s orchestrem)
Sources and Basic Works of Reference:
Burghauser, Jarmil: Antonín Dvořák, Thematic Catalogue, Praha 1996
Antonín Dvořák: Correspondence and Documents, A Critical Edition, Editor in Chief Milan Kuna, Vol. 1- 8, Praha 1987- 2001
Beckerman, Michael, B.: New Worlds of Dvořák, New York 2003
Clapham, John: Dvořák, London,1979
Döge, Klaus: Dvořák. Leben -Werke - Dokumente, Zürich, Mainz 1997
Sychra, Antonín: Estetika Dvořákovy symfonické tvorby, Praha 1959
Šourek, Otakar: Život a dílo Antonína Dvořáka, I - IV, Praha 1954 - 57
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