Dvořák and America

Donald Macleod explores Dvořák’s American years and uncovers what
he achieved during his time there.


Antonín Dvořák became the first Czech composer to achieve global
fame. His gift for transforming the folk styles of his native
Bohemia into richly Romantic classical music won him admirers far
beyond his homeland. Consequently, Dvořák was approached to leave
Europe and serve as director of the newly established National
Conservatory of Music in America. His sponsors hoped he would
help foster a new and distinctive American musical style, less
reliant upon Germanic traditions. During his time in America,
from 1892 – 1895, Dvořák composed many of his most celebrated
works, including his 9th symphony and his cello concerto. Before
leaving, he’d started work on his Cello Concerto, inspired by his
yearning for the Bohemian countryside. Back at home, Dvořák also
completed his String Quartet No 13 which some have seen to be his
final work to have musical associations with America.


Dvořák’s had set out to encourage American musicians to look to
their own traditions rather than simply following behind Europe.
He may not have been entirely successful but he did encourage
others in that aim, such as Harry T. Burleigh. Burleigh said of
Dvořák that he’d assisted in changing attitudes of African
American’s towards their own folk tradition, and most
importantly, that Dvořák "was a man of the people".


Music Featured:


Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 “From the New World” (excerpt)
Piano Trio No 4 in E minor, Op 90 “Dumky” (Lento maestoso)
Carnival Overture, Op 92 Requiem, Op 89 (Introitus) Symphony No 4
in D minor, Op 13 (excerpt) Silent Woods, Op 68 No 5 Symphony No
8 in G, Op 88 (excerpt) Requiem, Op 89 (Confutatis Maledictis)
Symphony No 6 in D, Op 60 (Scherzo: Furiant) Symphony No 8 in G,
Op 88 (Allegretto grazioso – Molto vivace) Te Deum, Op 102
Southland Sketches (excerpt) - Harry T. Burleigh Symphony No 9 in
E minor, Op 95 “From the New World” (excerpt) Sonatina for violin
and piano, Op 100 (Larghetto) Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – Arr.
Harry T. Burleigh Go Down Moses – Arr. Harry T. Burleigh Symphony
No 9 in E minor, Op 95 “From the New World” (Largo) String
Quintet, Op 97 “American” (excerpt) Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op
95 “From the New World” (Allegro con fuoco) Humoresques, Op 101
No.7 (excerpt) Suite in A, Op 98B (Allegro) String Quartet No 12
in F, Op 96 “The American” (Vivace) Humoresques, Op 101 (excerpt)
Biblical Songs, Op 99 (excerpt) Among the Fuchsias, from Five
Songs of Laurence Hope - Harry T. Burleigh Worth While, from Five
Songs of Laurence Hope - Harry T. Burleigh Cello Concerto in B
minor, Op 104 (excerpt) Lullaby, B194 - Dvořák Arr. J. Suk String
Quartet No 14, Op 105 (Molto vivace) Cello Concerto in B minor,
Op 104 (Adagio ma non troppo) String Quartet No 13 in G, Op 106
(excerpt) Cello Concerto in B minor, Op 104 (Finale)


Presented by Donald Macleod


Produced by Luke Whitlock


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Dvořák and America
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00182rp


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z