Born: September 8, 1841; Nelahozeves,
Austrian Empire (Present Czech Republic)
Died: May 1, 1904; Prague, Austrian
Empire (Present Czech Republic)
Nationality: Czech Republic
Occupation: Composer
Antonín Dvořák
was one of the first Czech composers to be recognized worldwide as a Czech
composer, who was born on September 8, 1841 and died on May 1, 1904. Following his
predecessor of the nationalist music, Bedřich
Smetana, Dvořák
frequently used the rhythms and other elements of the folk music from Moravia
and his hometown, Bohemia, to his music.
Birthhouse of Antonín Dvořák, Nelahozeves.
He showed his musical talent when
he started learning the violin when he was six years old, and in 1872 held his
first public concert in Prague. To gain recognition beyond the Prague, Dvořák
submitted a score of his “Symphony No. 1” to a music contest in Germany, but
did not win, and the score was lost for many decades without returning and then
found again.
In 1874, Dvořák submitted
several works, including two additional symphonies, to the Austrian State Prize
for Composition. At the time of submission, Dvořák
did not know it, but Johannes Brahms was the leading member of the jury, and Brahms
was very impressed with his works. The prize was awarded to Dvořák
in 1874 and then again in 1876 and 1877.
Brahms recommended Dvořák
to his publishing company, Simrock, and soon Dvořák
was commissioned to publish the "Slavonic Dances" by the publisher.
The work was highly acclaimed by Berlin music critic Louis Ehlert in 1878, and Dvořák
began to gain international fame with high sales of the sheet music of the
work.
Dvořák's
first work of a religious character, "Stabat Mater", was premiered in
Prague in 1880 and made a huge success in London in 1883.
In 1891, Dvořák
was appointed as a professor at the Prague Conservatory, and from 1890 to 1891 he
wrote "Piano Trio No. 4", also called "Dumky Trio", which
is one of his most successful chamber music.
Statue of Antonín Dvořák, Prague
Dvořák,
who moved to the United States in 1892, became the director of the National
Conservatory of Music of America in New York City. He wrote his two most
successful orchestral works, The Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” and “The Cello
Concerto” while living in the United States. He also wrote “The String Quartet No.
12,” also known as “The American String Quartet”, which is his most famous
chamber music during this time.
Statue of Antonín Dvořák, Stuyvesant Square, New York City
However, Dvořák
left the United States and return to Bohemia in 1895 because of his increasing recognition
in Europe and homesick, along with the difficulty of getting paid.
All of Dvořák's
nine operas are written in Czech except for the first work, and were intended
to convey the Czech national spirit.
The most successful of his operas to date
is "Rusalka". Among his smaller works, "Humoresque No. 7"
and "Songs My Mother Taught Me" are also widely performed and
recorded.
Thank you.
Dvořák's funeral (5 May 1904)
Dvořák's gravesite, Vyšehrad cemetery
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