Serenade in E for String Orchestra, Op. 22
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

[1875]

Antonín Dvořák composed his Serenade for Strings in just two weeks, during a particularly joyous period in his life. He was happily married, and he and his wife had recently welcomed their first son. At age 34, Dvořák felt confident in his success as a composer for the first time in his life and was finally free from the fear of poverty, having been awarded a yearly allowance from the Austrian government.

Each of the five movements, except for the last, roughly follows A–B–A form. Although the character shifts with each movement, the music remains enchanting, elegant, and gracious throughout.

The main theme is introduced immediately by the second violins and cellos at the beginning of the first movement. In the second movement, the “A” section concludes with a melancholy C-sharp minor chord when it first appears—but when it returns at the end of the movement, it resolves with a brighter C-sharp major chord.

The third movement develops the main theme in various tempos and moods. The Larghetto recalls a theme from the middle section of the previous movement, offering lyrical continuity. In the finale, Dvořák brings the work full circle with quotations from the main theme of the opening movement, creating a sense of unity and closure.

Strings