In one compositional skill Dvořák excels in my opinion: Switching between keys effortlessly. With other composers of that era, the key changes usually somehow break the flow of the music, but with Dvořák you don't even notice them, they don't disturb the melody at all. I remember several times as a violinist playing some smooth piece by Dvořák and being stunned by the five flats that suddenly appeared in the score from nowhere :-)
I have visited Spillville, Iowa, twice, in 1967 and 1984. Highly recommended. See the Bily Clock Museum and their gift shop. Sit in the wooden pews of Saint Wenceslaus Church where "Old Borax" played the organ on Sunday mornings in 1893. Obtain, if you can, the sound documentary "They Remember Dvorak," possibly still available from Pacifica Archives. The late William Malloch interviewed people in Spillville and Chicago, in the early 1960s, who actually did remember Dvorak and his family.
That’s a really good point 12:31. I was aware of the fact that several of the early, great American songwriters were of Eastern European/Jewish descent. But honestly, it didn’t occur to me until now, that in Dvorak’s American works the same combination of Eastern European and African/Native American influences were already sprouting. By the way, it’s always a pleasure to get some new recommended recordings of Dvorak’s chamber works. In the latter part of the 19th century there were no finer composers of chamber music than Brahms and Dvorak. The more people start to recognize that, the better.
Thanks so much for this video--it prompted me immediately to listen to the string quintet. I had never heard this piece, even though I have played the American Quartet a bunch of times, what a fantastic piece the quintet is. I agree completely that nothing beats the second movement for Americanisms, but it was the variations that caught my attention--I loved the theme that starts in A-flat minor (of all keys!) and ends in parallel major, seems a metaphor for his ambivalent attitude toward the US. Lots of this music seems to reflect homesickness and wonder in equal measure, and I am not sure that any of the more famous pieces do it better than this movement.
Glad to see this list, and I like the idea behind the new ideal series...I have noticed that many lists about Dvorak in America mention that he started the Cello Concerto and Humoresques while here but since he finished them at home, they leave them off the list proper...glad to see YOU count them!
May I add two additional recommendations for the delightful American Suite: James Gaffigan on Harmonia Mundi (coupled with the sixth symphony); and Iván Fischer on Channel Classics (coupled with the seventh symphony).
There is an excellent yet obscure recording of the American Suite in A by Jiri Starek with the SWR Symphony Orchestra, which unfortunately I cannot find on CD no matter how far I search, not even proof it was ever on CD. It’s on iTunes under a few releases, including “The 99 Most Essential Dvorak Masterpieces”. For now I have the disc you mentioned with the New World Symphony pairing which is fabulous. I like the piano version too, just about any pick there will do you well to hear it.
Be quite good to hear about your views, in how much the impact that Dvorak’s music has made on America and elsewhere. I have the Panocha Quartet recording. It’s fabulous.
Excellent video, thanks. I would like to add as a "bonus" a version of the American quartet that I love, in an album called Old Souls, with Guy Braunstein’s arrangements with the flute taking up the role originally played by the first violin. It's spectacular.
This is really interesting to me. I have often wondered why no label has issued a set of Dvorak's "American" works. Since only "The American Flag" cantata has had few recordings (I have the Tilson Thomas on LP and I do believe there was another by Czech/Slovak artists available on an obscure label), but the rest have been recorded multiple, and I mean "multiple" times (the New World Symphony maybe only second to the Beethoven 5th in this regard), that it might be quite possible for some company to compile a collection of this sort. I have almost all of these works in my CD collection, only the "American Flag" is missing (although I still own the Columbia LP) and "Biblical Songs" are missing. (Many thanks for that recommendation!). Perhaps Sony or Supraphon, with a bit of licensing, could be persuaded to do so as the works you commented on in this upload are among my most favorite compositions ever! There are few composers that I recommend their entire output, leading among them are Beethoven, Dvorak and Vaughan Wiliams. (Short note, your recent upload on VW on Hyperion, Bless you for commenting about the Serenade to Music, in my opinion, the most beautiful music yet composed!)
@@IP-zv1ih I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion and would also include Ravel, (I hate myself for forgetting him, one of my all time favorites), but I am sure other wil disagree or list other composers that every note they composed has an appeal to them, and who am I to dispute their opinion. This is what is so great about classical, or any interesting music, we can dispute or agree about it, but the best of it is what makes our civilization worthy. Any one coud have "discovered" gravity, but only Beethoven could have composed the "9TH"!
@@williamlarson8589 It seems Beethoven created the best techniques for the composition of the symphony,. as some conductor said other composers were inspired by Beethoven. The thing is I guess that other composers wanted to draw attention to some "topic" based on the technique, by Beethoven...that they wanted to create their own topic or story in the symphony, for example, composing about trees, nature, lands, forests, sea, birds, trains, ships, people, beaches or some specific topic...or pastoral things, or poems, with various melodies, therefore they seem original...not based on technique but the melodies and "stories of composers imagination. I mean their artistic input is the "topic" they are composing about...a tree or sea or something interesting. People compare Dvořak 7th and 9th symphonies. I feel like both are equally great, but the 9th symphony represents some "Story" that people clearly hear in the music, Hiawatha, or any story of the imagination.
Excellent idea at work here, David. Thanks. My personal go to version of the string quartet is the one recorded back in the 50s by the Hollywood String Quartet. Their performance is at once precise and deliciously luxe.
When Dvorak's works for piano and violin were quickly mentioned, I very much missed the A Major violin sonata op. 57. No, I wouldn't DREAM of suggesting that you forgot it. Of course not! As for future ideal lists: I'd love one of music for voices and orchestra by Berlioz. There's so much more than many listeners are aware of!
@@DavesClassicalGuide clearly not. I was alluding to the short list of works for violin and piano that you mentioned at around 14:10 - the four romantic pieces, the sonatina and some arrangements. That's where I missed op. 57. BTW: Suk recorded the sonata/sonatine/romantic pieces (with Holecek) so, so beautifully...
Very good list and very good recommendations. There is a Supraphon box called Dvořák The American Years - good performances but several of the works DH mentions are not there. Sony did a very good CD called the American Dream which contains three of DH's recommendations on one CD - Tilson Thomas In American Suite and Flag, Juilliard Quartet in Quartet - quite hard to find now. Personally I found the Dorati version of the suite rather scrappy and disappointing but Tilson Thomas is fine. I also like Rochester Orchestra with Zinman in American Suite (coupled with Janacek Lach Dances). If you buy this you get a surprise - an unusual Dvorak work, not American, a march for Austrian Emperor's Wedding Anniversary - not mentioned anywhere on the CD details but it is there (on the original issue not on Apex reissue). The only time I've ever come across a surprise work on a CD! If you don't mind mono sound listen to the Šejna recording of American Suite - terrific in my opinion and to my (non-American) ears gets the American aspects wonderfully in final movement!
@@DavesClassicalGuide He was a bit criticized that he should make some cuts, or if the article is accurate it was expected to be Wagnerian style.. but with Rusalka and later works it seems he did listen to others. Some wrote it seems that only Mozart could write what he wanted. Who knows.
A suggestion for a new line of posts. Looking at this list, I thought, if Dvorak had composed only the 9th Symphony and the Cello Concerto, the music world would know him well. What about a series of "if only" chats.
Perhaps you can do one on Rachmaninov’s American inspired music? I don’t know how many works that would include, but his 3rd Symphony, 4th Piano Concerto, and I’d even say the Symphonic Dances and Paganini Variations would qualify; maybe even the 3rd Concerto?
Pop music also was influenced by them... A week ago I read a Czech article where they say that during the 70s, 80s 90s era, Popular singers of Czechia made most cover versions of popular American songs, or also Italian songs, but with completely different Czech texts. The Italian ones are quite original too. They were thinking about whether the artists were able to be as good and original as foreign artists. I wonder maybe during communism they were very much inspired by US and European countries. Or maybe a smaller number of big stars came to play in communistic countries so local artists made Czech covers. But some singers inspired by Italian songs combined them with Czech pop and disco, lived in Italy too for a while or others traveled abroad too. But they of course made also Czech music, but its a bit different than Italian or US country music, then Czechs fell in love also with country music, love songs composed by Czechs. I don't watch it under the microscope because I don't care, but I noticed that many Czech singers were singing cover versions. Maybe communism had such an impact on their imagination, but at the same time, czech movies and songs were good too.I don't know whether the regime has something to do with it. But I wonder if maybe Czech national music is folk actually. Some composers did film music or for tv etc.
It's worth getting a version of the Biblical Songs with piano to have all ten of them. Supraphon has a recording by Vera Soukupova accompanied by Ivan Morave that's excellent.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Dave, I apologize for misunderstanding your presentation. I still think the Soukupova/Moravec recording is worth a recommendation, especially for what Moravec does with the accompianment.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks! I know, it would be a really short list. But at least the number could be stretched to four, if you include the choral version of ”Seven Last Words”. Plus I would be interested to hear more of your thoughts about these fascinating works.
I think you did hear it. Whistle or hum the first two lines of the refrain: "Swing low, ... ," through "carry me home." Then do it again, but leave out the first note corresponding to the word "Swing" (i.e., start with the word "low"). Then the melody of those first two lines matches what Dvorak wrote.
I prefer the American Quintet to the Quartet-- especially the trio section of the second movement. It is just as tuneful as the Quartet. The finale sounds the most American, IMO.
In one compositional skill Dvořák excels in my opinion: Switching between keys effortlessly. With other composers of that era, the key changes usually somehow break the flow of the music, but with Dvořák you don't even notice them, they don't disturb the melody at all. I remember several times as a violinist playing some smooth piece by Dvořák and being stunned by the five flats that suddenly appeared in the score from nowhere :-)
Viewers may also enjoy the recent BBC radio 3 ‘composer of the week’ programmes about Dvorak in America. They are online.
I have visited Spillville, Iowa, twice, in 1967 and 1984. Highly recommended.
See the Bily Clock Museum and their gift shop. Sit in the wooden pews of
Saint Wenceslaus Church where "Old Borax" played the organ on Sunday mornings
in 1893. Obtain, if you can, the sound documentary "They Remember Dvorak,"
possibly still available from Pacifica Archives. The late William Malloch interviewed
people in Spillville and Chicago, in the early 1960s, who actually did remember
Dvorak and his family.
That’s a really good point 12:31. I was aware of the fact that several of the early, great American songwriters were of Eastern European/Jewish descent. But honestly, it didn’t occur to me until now, that in Dvorak’s American works the same combination of Eastern European and African/Native American influences were already sprouting.
By the way, it’s always a pleasure to get some new recommended recordings of Dvorak’s chamber works. In the latter part of the 19th century there were no finer composers of chamber music than Brahms and Dvorak. The more people start to recognize that, the better.
Thanks so much for this video--it prompted me immediately to listen to the string quintet. I had never heard this piece, even though I have played the American Quartet a bunch of times, what a fantastic piece the quintet is. I agree completely that nothing beats the second movement for Americanisms, but it was the variations that caught my attention--I loved the theme that starts in A-flat minor (of all keys!) and ends in parallel major, seems a metaphor for his ambivalent attitude toward the US. Lots of this music seems to reflect homesickness and wonder in equal measure, and I am not sure that any of the more famous pieces do it better than this movement.
Wonderfully put!
Glad to see this list, and I like the idea behind the new ideal series...I have noticed that many lists about Dvorak in America mention that he started the Cello Concerto and Humoresques while here but since he finished them at home, they leave them off the list proper...glad to see YOU count them!
This comes at the height of an American Dvorak phase for me. You, Mr. Hurwitz, have excellent timing.
May I add two additional recommendations for the delightful American Suite: James Gaffigan on Harmonia Mundi (coupled with the sixth symphony); and Iván Fischer on Channel Classics (coupled with the seventh symphony).
There is an excellent yet obscure recording of the American Suite in A by Jiri Starek with the SWR Symphony Orchestra, which unfortunately I cannot find on CD no matter how far I search, not even proof it was ever on CD. It’s on iTunes under a few releases, including “The 99 Most Essential Dvorak Masterpieces”. For now I have the disc you mentioned with the New World Symphony pairing which is fabulous. I like the piano version too, just about any pick there will do you well to hear it.
Be quite good to hear about your views, in how much the impact that Dvorak’s music has made on America and elsewhere. I have the Panocha Quartet recording. It’s fabulous.
I had never heard of that cantata! Thank you.
Excellent video, thanks. I would like to add as a "bonus" a version of the American quartet that I love, in an album called Old Souls, with Guy Braunstein’s arrangements with the flute taking up the role originally played by the first violin. It's spectacular.
This is really interesting to me. I have often wondered why no label has issued a set of Dvorak's "American" works. Since only "The American Flag" cantata has had few recordings (I have the Tilson Thomas on LP and I do believe there was another by Czech/Slovak artists available on an obscure label), but the rest have been recorded multiple, and I mean "multiple" times (the New World Symphony maybe only second to the Beethoven 5th in this regard), that it might be quite possible for some company to compile a collection of this sort. I have almost all of these works in my CD collection, only the "American Flag" is missing (although I still own the Columbia LP) and "Biblical Songs" are missing. (Many thanks for that recommendation!). Perhaps Sony or Supraphon, with a bit of licensing, could be persuaded to do so as the works you commented on in this upload are among my most favorite compositions ever! There are few composers that I recommend their entire output, leading among them are Beethoven, Dvorak and Vaughan Wiliams. (Short note, your recent upload on VW on Hyperion, Bless you for commenting about the Serenade to Music, in my opinion, the most beautiful music yet composed!)
I heard some conductor say that the only conposer he could think of who never wrote a poor piece was Debussy.
@@IP-zv1ih I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion and would also include Ravel, (I hate myself for forgetting him, one of my all time favorites), but I am sure other wil disagree or list other composers that every note they composed has an appeal to them, and who am I to dispute their opinion. This is what is so great about classical, or any interesting music, we can dispute or agree about it, but the best of it is what makes our civilization worthy. Any one coud have "discovered" gravity, but only Beethoven could have composed the "9TH"!
@@williamlarson8589 It seems Beethoven created the best techniques for the composition of the symphony,. as some conductor said other composers were inspired by Beethoven.
The thing is I guess that other composers wanted to draw attention to some "topic" based on the technique, by Beethoven...that they wanted to create their own topic or story in the symphony, for example, composing about trees, nature, lands, forests, sea, birds, trains, ships, people, beaches or some specific topic...or pastoral things, or poems, with various melodies, therefore they seem original...not based on technique but the melodies and "stories of composers imagination. I mean their artistic input is the "topic" they are composing about...a tree or sea or something interesting.
People compare Dvořak 7th and 9th symphonies.
I feel like both are equally great, but the 9th symphony represents some "Story" that people clearly hear in the music, Hiawatha, or any story of the imagination.
Thanks!
Thank you very much for your consideration!
Excellent idea at work here, David. Thanks. My personal go to version of the string quartet is the one recorded back in the 50s by the Hollywood String Quartet. Their performance is at once precise and deliciously luxe.
Yes!
When Dvorak's works for piano and violin were quickly mentioned, I very much missed the A Major violin sonata op. 57. No, I wouldn't DREAM of suggesting that you forgot it. Of course not!
As for future ideal lists: I'd love one of music for voices and orchestra by Berlioz. There's so much more than many listeners are aware of!
It's not an American work!
@@DavesClassicalGuide clearly not. I was alluding to the short list of works for violin and piano that you mentioned at around 14:10 - the four romantic pieces, the sonatina and some arrangements. That's where I missed op. 57. BTW: Suk recorded the sonata/sonatine/romantic pieces (with Holecek) so, so beautifully...
Very good list and very good recommendations. There is a Supraphon box called Dvořák The American Years - good performances but several of the works DH mentions are not there. Sony did a very good CD called the American Dream which contains three of DH's recommendations on one CD - Tilson Thomas In American Suite and Flag, Juilliard Quartet in Quartet - quite hard to find now. Personally I found the Dorati version of the suite rather scrappy and disappointing but Tilson Thomas is fine. I also like Rochester Orchestra with Zinman in American Suite (coupled with Janacek Lach Dances). If you buy this you get a surprise - an unusual Dvorak work, not American, a march for Austrian Emperor's Wedding Anniversary - not mentioned anywhere on the CD details but it is there (on the original issue not on Apex reissue). The only time I've ever come across a surprise work on a CD! If you don't mind mono sound listen to the Šejna recording of American Suite - terrific in my opinion and to my (non-American) ears gets the American aspects wonderfully in final movement!
Some article said he also rewrote the Opera Dmitri in America.
He revised it; it was composed much earlier.
@@DavesClassicalGuide He was a bit criticized that he should make some cuts, or if the article is accurate it was expected to be Wagnerian style.. but with Rusalka and later works it seems he did listen to others. Some wrote it seems that only Mozart could write what he wanted. Who knows.
Fabulous!!!!!!!!
A couple of ideas for the ideal lists: post-WWII Strauss, and non-dodecaphonic Schönberg.
The ideal list of Handel at Cannons (probably the only sharpely deleanated period in his life with an overviewable output!)
A suggestion for a new line of posts. Looking at this list, I thought, if Dvorak had composed only the 9th Symphony and the Cello Concerto, the music world would know him well. What about a series of "if only" chats.
Nice idea. I'll give it some thoughts.
Perhaps you can do one on Rachmaninov’s American inspired music? I don’t know how many works that would include, but his 3rd Symphony, 4th Piano Concerto, and I’d even say the Symphonic Dances and Paganini Variations would qualify; maybe even the 3rd Concerto?
I wouldn't call any of it "American inspired" in the way Dvorak's was--it just happened to be written over here!
Pop music also was influenced by them... A week ago I read a Czech article where they say that during the 70s, 80s 90s era, Popular singers of Czechia made most cover versions of popular American songs, or also Italian songs, but with completely different Czech texts. The Italian ones are quite original too. They were thinking about whether the artists were able to be as good and original as foreign artists. I wonder maybe during communism they were very much inspired by US and European countries. Or maybe a smaller number of big stars came to play in communistic countries so local artists made Czech covers. But some singers inspired by Italian songs combined them with Czech pop and disco, lived in Italy too for a while or others traveled abroad too. But they of course made also Czech music, but its a bit different than Italian or US country music, then Czechs fell in love also with country music, love songs composed by Czechs. I don't watch it under the microscope because I don't care, but I noticed that many Czech singers were singing cover versions. Maybe communism had such an impact on their imagination, but at the same time, czech movies and songs were good too.I don't know whether the regime has something to do with it. But I wonder if maybe Czech national music is folk actually. Some composers did film music or for tv etc.
It's worth getting a version of the Biblical Songs with piano to have all ten of them. Supraphon has a recording by Vera Soukupova accompanied by Ivan Morave that's excellent.
The rest have also been orchestrated in similar style by other arrangers.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Dave, I apologize for misunderstanding your presentation. I still think the Soukupova/Moravec recording is worth a recommendation, especially for what Moravec does with the accompianment.
@@warrenhapke2091 I agree with you!
How about an ideal list of Haydn’s oratorios?
Maybe. Let's see what I can do with it.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks! I know, it would be a really short list. But at least the number could be stretched to four, if you include the choral version of ”Seven Last Words”. Plus I would be interested to hear more of your thoughts about these fascinating works.
@@anttivirolainen8223 Thanks. I would also include the Stabat Mater...
How about a list of compositions during his time in INDIA 🇮🇳
After listening to the first movement of his 9th Symphony I swear I heard the tune : Swing Low Sweet Chariot?
Not quite. In fact, the tune in question is a free inversion of the first subject. That's even more amazing, in my view.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks Dave.I stand corrected once again
@@richardwilliams473 Dave has a supercomputer in his mind, nad good memory.
I think you did hear it. Whistle or hum the first two lines of the refrain: "Swing low, ... ," through "carry me home." Then do it again, but leave out the first note corresponding to the word "Swing" (i.e., start with the word "low"). Then the melody of those first two lines matches what Dvorak wrote.
@@philipkass3539 In other words, the tunes are not the same. I don't deny that they are similar.
I prefer the American Quintet to the Quartet-- especially the trio section of the second movement. It is just as tuneful as the Quartet. The finale sounds the most American, IMO.
When are we going to have a Dohnanyi box? Oh, we won't.