Antonin Dvorak — The Composer, Not the Hockey Player!

Antonin Dvorak — The Composer, Not the Hockey Player!

By Jeffrey Engel, West Cornwall

This article marks the first appearance of a new monthly musical column. Subjects will be culled from anniversaries (celebrated and obscure) of birthdays, death days, debuts, premieres and other notable happenings. Recommended listening will be offered and any questions or requests for further information can be sent care of The Voice. My goodness, a musical "Dear Abby" may be in the making!

Dvorak is the inaugural subject. Two of his early symphonies received their American premieres during the current month. More importantly, he wrote down the first notes of the New World Symphony in Iowa during January 1893.

Antonin Dvorak spent several years in America, but we are getting ahead of ourselves. The eminent Czech composer was born in a village outside of Prague in 1841. He was the eldest child of an innkeeper-butcher and next in line to continue three generations of meat cutters. At sixteen he persuaded his father to send him to Prague for musical studies. He barely survived the next fifteen years, playing viola in cafes and in the streets until Smetana helped him to secure a position in the National Theatre's orchestra. Brahms also came to his aid by pushing Simrock to publish some of the younger man's music. Suddenly, his career took off.

In September of 1892 Dvorak arrived in New York City to head the newly created National Conservatory of Music. Duties included teaching three hours daily, preparing student performances and conducting concerts of his own music. During summer vacation he resided in Spillville, a Czech community in northeast Iowa. There he began to compose the New World Symphony.

Dvorak's American sojourn lasted only three years. He suffered from severe homesickness and preferred to teach at the Prague Conservatory. Eventually he became its director, remaining in that post until his death in 1904.

Dvorak was the happiest and the least neurotic of the Romantics. No deep thinker and barely literate, he had only one other passion, locomotives. The noise of trains had little effect on him—but, oh, was he terrified of thunderstorms! At the earliest sounds of rumbling he would tremble, turn pale, rush to the piano and pound out chords in a vain attempt to drown out the clamor. Otherwise free of trepidation, Dvorak turned out one tuneful work after another and ever since has been a concert favorite.

Dvorak is best known by the general public for his symphonic and chamber music. Among the works that should be in every music lover's library are: (1) Symphony #8 in G major, op. 88; (2) Cello concerto op. 104; (3) Scherzo Capriccioso, op. 66; (4) Carnival Overture, op. 92; (5) Serenade for string orchestra in E major, op. 22; and (6) String Quartet #12 in F, op. 96, "The American."

I will present four talks devoted to Dvorak between January 24 and March 8. Sessions will be held at Orion House in West Cornwall on Saturdays at 4 p.m.; as well as at the Litchfield Community Center on Fridays at 1 p.m. For more info call me at 860-672-6222.