Antonín Dvořák

BORN: 1841 / DIED: 1904 /
NATIONALITY: (Bohemian) Czech

Antonín Dvořák (pronounced AN-tuh-neen DVOR-zhaak)

He lived in what we call the ‘Romantic Era’ in music history.

Antonin Dvorak was born on September 8, 1841, in a small village in Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. He was one of seven children. Antonin’s parents recognised his musical talent, and at the age of six he began his musical training. He studied music and grew up to be a fine viola player and teacher. He had a unique style that often combined traditional folk tunes with a large, orchestral sound. Dvořák found it hard to make a living from his music, so he tried entering composition competitions. His luck wasn’t good, and he was getting frustrated at not winning when one of his pieces was spotted by an extremely famous composer called Brahms.

Brahms took a real interest in Dvořák, he gave him lots of advice and even introduced him to a publisher. Within a couple of years Dvořák was almost as famous as Brahms himself! At the peak of this fame in 1892 he accepted the post of Director at the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. The position was extremely well paid and Dvořák was initially excited about the move.

While in America, he discovered African-American and Native American music. This became mixed with his longing for his home country. Together, these sounds meshed into a fresh, inviting sound that has lasted through the ages. The piece he wrote based off of these sounds was called a symphony, or a large musical composition made up of four parts or movements, and was nicknamed “The New World Symphony,” after the country he wrote it in.

He was miserably homesick and after just 3 years he quit the post and returned home for good. Despite this unhappiness, some of his most memorable pieces were written during his short time in the United States.

Dvorak was the first composer from his country (Bohemia – now Czech Republic) to have world wide acclaim.  He wrote lots of orchestral music (including symphonies and dances), quartets as well as piano music and choral music.

Complete new World Symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_tPb4JFgmw

Second movement (‘Hovis bread advert!’) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93WT8FDLKsw

Dvorak’s From the New World Symphony, 4th Movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGdtkUiKaA8

 Slavonic Dance Op. 46 No. 8, piano duet version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iovWm84f6TQ&t=2s

Slavonic Dance Op. 46 No. 8, orchestral version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMVN3upVSKI

Sand animation The noon witch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BMFofxIt-k

The Best of Dvorak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3-ZniwXSYY

Little film about Dvorak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILC143PNv9s