Chautauqua Institution - Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra with Time For Three

Antonín Dvořák

Slavonic Dances, op. 46, B. 83, nos 1-4, 5-8

Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, nos. 1, 2, 7, and 8 (B. 83) Antonín Dvořák

Dvořák had few peers of his generation for creating musical compositions of comparable tunefulness and sheer delight. Loyal to his Czech origins throughout his life, he had the uncanny ability to create music that at once reflected his heritage while at the same time enchanting audiences across all national boundaries. It is important to bear in mind that the Czechlands in Dvořák’s day were still part of the old Habsburg Empire. Mindful of this nationality and inspired by Bedrich Smetana’s pathbreaking excursions into music that celebrated Czech culture, Dvořák began producing a large number of vocal and instrumental compositions of a decidedly Czech character by setting opera librettos and composing songs in his native tongue, as well as celebrating national dance idioms such as the polka and furiant.

Living virtually hand to mouth, Dvořák began submitting compositions to a panel of judges in Vienna in order to win stipends. He also supported himself by teaching and playing organ in churches. He was quite successful in getting financial support from Vienna. When Johannes Brahms became one of the Viennese judges in 1877, he immediately took an intense liking to Dvořák’s music, recommending to his publisher, Simrock, to start accepting Dvořák as worthy of attention. Thus began Dvořák’s international fame—a phenomenon that eventually brought him to the United States.

Despite some resistance to this Bohemian composer by some narrow-minded Austrian musicians, Dvořák’s stature continued to rise both abroad and in his homeland. His works for piano duo became particularly well-loved. The Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 to be performed on this concert by the CSO include No. 1 (Furiant), No. 2 (Dumka), No. 7 (Skočná), and No. 8 (Furiant). A Furiant is a lively syncopated Bohemian dance that alternates duple and triple meters. The name Dumka stems from Ukrainian word for “thought.” Dumkas reflect a melancholic mood. Skočná is a quick duple-metered dance. Bedrich Smetana used this genre in the popular “Dance of the Comedians” from his opera, The Bartered Bride.