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| The building where Dvorak lived in Prague from 1877 till his death. |
Friday, 25 September 2020
AIR FM, Siesta Time
2.30-3 p.m.
Work: Slavonic Dance, Opus 72, No. 2 in E minor
Duration 5:14 minutes
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKkOD7QdiEA
Sinfonietta Cracovia
Directed by Jurek Dybal
Krakow, Poland, 2014
Dvorak (Pr. Dvo-jack) is more well-known for his Largo from the ‘New World’ Symphony No. 9. However his output in the folk tunes of Czechoslovakia was formidable. ‘The music of the people is like a rare and lovely flower growing amidst encroaching weeds’ wrote Dvorak. In a move that defined many composers of the late-nineteenth century, Dvorak turned to local music to create the repertoire of a nation. The featured work was originally composed as a duet for piano in 1886, but was arranged for orchestra on the suggestion of Dvorak’s publisher. It premiered in Prague in 1887. The dances were inspired by the Hungarian Dances composed by Brahms. Though it is barely 5 minutes it contains two sections of waltzes and a haunting leitmotif which opens and ends the work.
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Sleeve notes by RJ Dr. Brian Mendonca; pic courtesy dvoraknyc(dot)org
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