ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK Serenade for Winds, IV. Finale, I. Moderato, quasi marcia
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK Serenade for Winds, IV. Finale, I. Moderato, quasi marcia
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Born 1841 in Nelahozeves, Bohemia; died 1904 in Prague, Bohemia( now Czech Republic)
• Dvořák was born the first of 14 children. He started playing violin in school and performed at his local church and village band. His upbringing in Bohemia had a significant impact on his work.
• Dvořák’ s first compositions were performed without fanfare – many of his works did not receive premieres until years after they were completed. His fortunes began to change when he entered a competition, for which Brahms was one of the judges, and won. Brahms became a champion of Dvořák’ s music for the rest of his life.
• From there, his career took off, and Dvořák started gaining international recognition. In 1892, Dvořák moved to the U. S. where he wished to learn about American music. Dvořák supported the notion that African-American and Native American music were the foundation of American music.
• Dvořák became the first Czech composer to achieve international fame, and he is remembered for his use of Bohemian folk melodies in Romantic music.
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE
1878
MUSIC Gilbert and Sullivan’ s H. M. S. Pinafore
FUN FACT
When Dvořák was growing up, he apprenticed as a butcher. He was even inducted into the local Butcher’ s Guild at age 13.
ART Mary Cassatt’ s Portrait of the Artist
ABOUT THE PIECE
• This chamber work, written in 1878, was dedicated to the music critic Louis Ehlert.
• Dvořák conducted the premiere of this Slavic-inspired piece with the orchestra of the Prague Provisional Theatre.
LITERATURE Leo Tolstoy’ s Anna Karenina
HISTORY Russo-Turkish War
BSO SESSIONS | MAY-JUNE 2021
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