1. Mitchell Jacobsen Music 1010 Summer Semester 2011
Antonin Dvorak
Mitchell Jacobsen
Music 1010
Summer Semester 2011

2. Biography Born in Nelahozeves, Bohemia in September 1841
Began studying music in 1855
In 1857 attended organ school in Prague
Played the viola and joined the orchestra of the Prague National Opera.
1879 he writes his first opera titled Alfred which turned out to be unsuccessful.
Antonin Dvorak was born in Nelahozeves, Bohemia in September He began to study music in 1855 where he took lessons in German. He was the son of an innkeeper and a butcher. He was baptized as a Roman Catholic. He had a strong Christian faith and loved his Bohemian heritage which plays a huge influence in his music throughout his life. He was not highly favored of his dad when he started to like music simply because his father didn’t want him to be a musician. He tried to change his father’s mind by writing a polka for the town band, but that fell through by a lousy performance. In 1857 he then decided to attend an organ school in Prague. He played the viola and join the orchestra of Prague National Opera. In 1870 Dvorak writes his first opera titled Alfred which was unsuccessful and was never performed during his lifetime.

3. Biography
Married Josefina Cermakova, who then cheated on him so he ended up marrying her younger sister Anna Cermakova.
Together they had 9 children, 3 of which they lost to illness during infancy.
He became a music teacher and was poor during the beginning stages of his career.
 He fell in love and married Josefina Cermakova which didn’t last very long. She had ended up leaving him and later married her younger sister Anna. During their marriage they had 9 children together and lost 3 children to illnesses during their infancy. During their first years of marriage being a music teacher and church organist was difficult for him to make his name and provide for his family.

4. Biography In 1874 he wrote his first symphony
His first symphony won him the Austrian State Music Prize which assisted with the young, poor and gifted musicians.
Also in 1874 he performed in front of a judge/composer Johannes Brahms who later ended up being very influential in his life.
In 1874 he wrote his first Symphony in E flat which won him the Austrian Sate Music Prize. Among the judges was a famous composer Johannes Brahms. With the help and support from Brahms Dvorak finally had a publisher and gained some international recognition. Brahms was very influential in his life as he became a composer.

5. Biography Began to compose works with Bohemian folk melodies.
Many of his pieces were Slavonic dances for the orchestra.
Most famous piece: “The Slavonic Dances”
In 1883 “Stabat Mater” was another famous piece of his.
In 1875 he began to compose works with Bohemian folk melodies including a set of Slavonic dances for the orchestra. The most famously known one is “the Slavonic dances” which were performed throughout Europe. In 1875 Dvorak expressed his loss of his baby through his Second piano trio in G minor as well as the mournful “Stabat Mater” which was later published in 1883.

6. Biography In 1884 was his most productive years of his career
He publishes Serenade in E major
He publishes Symphony no. 5
He publishes Serenade in D minor
Following that year, the next year became one of his most productive years in his career. He wrote Serenade in E Major, Symphony no. 5, which some music publishers competed to print and then a second serenade in D minor which was also a success.

7. Biography Dvorak Travels to London to conduct his works.
Symphony No. 7 is premiered in 1885
In 1891 he receives his honorary doctorate degree from Cambridge University in England.
In 1884 he traveled to London to conduct his works. His symphony no. 7 was premiered in 1885 and was written for London. In 1891 he received an honorary doctorate degree from Cambridge University in London, England.

8. Biography
In 1892, he gets invited to become the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City
American Music inspired him to write “New World”
He combines different American rhythms with folk tunes in many pieces of his during his time spent in America.
In 1892 he was invited to become the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City, receiving a salary of 15,000 per year. That was 3 times as much of what he was making before. He wanted to discover new types of music and engage in the American music. He was inspired by the music of the “New World” specifically songs of African Americans and Native Americans. He combined these “New World” rhythms with folk tunes in many of his composed pieces while in America.

9. Biography
Really loved the American culture and was inspired by his experiences there.
While in America he continues to Compose: The String Quartet in F, The string quintet in E flat, and a sonatina for the violin and piano.
In 1893 is when he wrote “From the New World” based upon his experiences in America. In that same year he composed “The String Quartet in F, the String Quintet in E flat, along with Sonatina for the violin and piano while spending summers with his family in Spillville, Iowa.

10. Biography In 1895 he moves back to Prague
In Prague, he composes most of his works for the piano
Becomes the director of the Prague Conservatory for the remainder of his life
He continues to teach, write operas and compose.
In 1895 when he became homesick and moved back to Prague, he composed his most famous work for the piano, called Humoreaje. He was appointed the director of the Prague Conservatory in which he held that position for the rest of his life. While in Prague he continued teaching, writing operas and symphonic poems.

11. Biography
Becomes the director of the conservatory in Prague from November 1901 until 1904
Dies on May 1, 1904 in Prague
His compositions consists of:
9 symphonies
10 operas
2 series of Slavic dances
12 sting quartets.
5 Quintets, sextet, and over 100 melodies.
Dvorak was successful as the director of the Conservatory in Prague in November 1901 until his death on May 1, 1904 in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Overall Dvorak wrote 9 symphonies. They were not however published in the same order they were written. His No. 6 symphony was the first to be published in 1881 followed by his No. 7 Symphony in 1885, with the rest following until the last one which was his No. 1 symphony written in His work consists of 10 operas, 9 symphonies, symphonic poems, suites, overtures, concerts for carious instruments, 2 series of Slavic dances, 12 string quartets, 5 quintets, sextet, pieces for violin and piano, and 100 melodies. Not everything came easy to him, but he was a hard and a determined worker. Dvorak slowly put and methodically created some of the best orchestral music in the late nineteenth century.

12. Composition History
In 1871 Dvorak leaves the National Theater Orchestra to devote to composing
1874 he receives his first break as a composer
Wins an award/grant to help assist the young, poor gifted musicians which define Dvorak’s status.
In 1871 Atonin Dvorak left the National Theater Orchestra to devote himself fulltime to composing. In 1874 he received his first real break as a composer. He was awarded the Austrian State Stipendium, a grant to assist the young, poor, gifted musicians which defined Dvorak’s status at the time. Also in 1876 and 1877 he received the same prizes two years in a row.

13. Composition History
Johannes Brahms judges Dvorak’s piece and is very impressed
Brahms recommends Dvorak to use his publisher
Brahms considered to be a great mentor, friend and influence in Dvorak’s life
Dvorak’s reputation grows and he gains popularity in England in 1884
After that happened, a powerful music critic by the name of Eduard Hanslick told him to send some pieces to Johannes Brahms. Brahms reviewed them became a fan of his work. Brahms then recommended Dvorak to his own publisher, Simrock who immediately contracted a first option on all of his works. Brahms was considered a mentor, friend and great influence in Dvoraks life. Especially around the time when he composed symphony no 7 as well as his sixth symphony in D major. In the early 1880s Dvorak’s reputation was growing and he gained popularity in England after these two symphonies were played in 1884.

14. Composition History
December 13, 1884 starting working on symphony No. 7
It was completed on March 17, 1885
1st Performance was 5 weeks later held on April 22, 1885 at St. James Hall in London, England.
1st world premier on April 22, 1885.
1st U.S. appearance was on January 9th 1886.
“Antonin Dvorak first started working on Symphony no 7 on December 13, He finished it on March 17, After it was finished, the first performance was five weeks later held on April 22, 1885 at St. James’s Hall in London, England. It made its first world premiere on April 22, 1885.” It then made it to the US on January 9th The symphony was characterized as dark, tragic, passionate, with a certain stiffness end for a finale.

15. Listening Guide
0:00 Introduction: deep bass cello representing darkness and confrontation melodies
1:24 Clarinets and violins join in. Smooth. Huge change in texture. Wind instruments bring in harmonization.
2:33 Timbre is present by having the piccolo, clarinet and oboe playing. Rhythm sways back and forth.
0:00 Introduction: Begins with a cello representing a darkness or confrontation melody with a small staccatos.
00:16 The Flutes come in with a trumpet to lighten the feeling of darkness created by the cellos. Timbre is present with the flutes, piccolo, and oboe. The form of the music feels like the wind instruments are competing with the cellos to create a deep texture.
0:30 Very dramatic sequence of rhythm and harmony between the wind instruments and the bass strings again. Cellos are strong in the background forming a dark melody. Starts to feel like its climbing to the climax.
1:00: Has a lot of harmony produced by all instruments its dramatic and increases up and down the scale. It plays a lot of arpeggios very quickly. Has a quick fast tempo.
1:20 From here it goes from very fast to very slow as the wind instruments start to play in the next verse.
1:24 Second verse starts with clarinets and violins. Its very smooth and feels like a running stream which is a huge change in texture from before. Its very nice to listen to. Great melody forming by the wind instruments harmonizing.
1:41 Cellos come back in strong and feels like a reoccurring theme from the introduction where the battle of the wind versus the string instruments.
1:55 Climax of this movement begins, very loud, a lot of texture becomes complex as many instruments play together. Horns are really loud, along with bassoons, and trombones. The music is very fierce and powerful.
2:10 Third Verse : Loudness dies down and trumpet comes in to a soft melody. Cello gradually sneaks in through the background but still plays a quiet melody.
2:33 The flute becomes the lead instrument playing a beautiful harmony. Its full of timbre by having the piccolo, clarinet and oboe playing. Flowing rhythm swaying back and forth until the flute comes back in as the lead instrument.

16. Listening Guide
2:58 Texture with the string instruments playing together
3:29 Wind Instruments still playing. Smooth and charming melodies
4:39 Chorus: Very loud dynamics. Sharp staccatos
5:46 Bass Strings come in add texture, melody become vigorous and crude sounding.
2:58 Texture is present with the String and wind instruments playing together creating a peaceful sway back and forth again. Drops quite a few octaves quickly.
3:29 Wind instruments still playing, No hardcore dynamics here. Its still pleasantly charming and smooth with the wind instruments.
4:01 Very soft melody decrescendos. Stays soft for a bit. Slowly builds up like the chorus or climax is going to happen.
4:39 Chorus: Very loud dynamics with all the instruments are playing. Every instrument is harmonizing and a fine rhythm and melody created. Sharp staccatos.
5:12 Huge contrast of texture with the complexity of the notes playing together. Change in octaves as they sway back and forth. Wind instruments are playing softly
5:46 Bass strings come in and add the texture of the music to be vigorous and crude. The wind instruments are trying to fight back by playing loud.
6: 02 Harmony, harmony , harmony. (LOTS of Harmonizing) The wind and strings harmonize.
6:26 Tempo is very soft and smooth

17. Listening Guide 6:42 Steady beats, many notes playing quickly.
7:19 Climax involving cello, bassoons, timpani, and bassoons all together creating harmony.
8:15 Dramatic Change from a major scale to a minor scale.
9:52 Heavy Brass instruments playing very loud.
6:42 Steady beats, many notes played in a row quickly. There is again, a simple texture with simplicity of the notes playing together.
7:19 – Climax, cello, bassoons, timpani, bassoons, Dramatic sequences of chords played together.
7:31 Start of the strings begin again while the violins play a simple melody.
7:59 Melody plays simply and reminds me of a ballet, smooth movements, not very loud music, but relaxing.
8: 15 Dramatic change from major to minor scale for the next couple measures. Dark feeling. Back to Major feeling a sense of softness and clarity.
8:44 A pure melody, clear harmony and smooth transitions between the string instruments.
9:21 Not a flowing high pitched sound anymore more of a deep darker melody with cellos, timpanis, trumpets playing boldly. Loud dynamics.
9:52 Heavy brass instruments come in and feels like a climax is going to occur.

18. Listening Guide
10:05 Heart of the climax, building of the bridge for this movement. Loud quick tempo.
10:30 Melody dies down and goes really soft.
11:30 Coda ends with less dynamics, little texture and slowly fades the song out.
10:05 Heart of the Climax, building of the bridge for this movement. Feels like threatened powers. Many chords are playing over and over quickly with a loud tempo.
10:19 Brass instruments come in very strongly again.
10:30 the Melody goes really soft, very soft decrescendo while cellos are playing very soft notes.
10:40 Soft melody and basic form.
11:00 One last crisis seems to expire and back to its original form, with a twist downward. Feels like a wooded area is now peaceful after a hard fight on the battlefront and victory is in the air.
11:30 The Coda ends with less dynamics, little texture, and slowly fades.

19. Bibliography
Title: Learn About Music: History; Famous Composers: Dvorak
Name of Author: unk
Year Written: unk
Web site address:
Title: Reference List:
Name of Author: Listopedia
Year written/modified: May 07, 2011
Web site address:
Title: Antonin Dvorak
Name of Author: Unknown
Year written: Unknown
Web site address:
Bibliography:
Title: Learn About Music: History; Famous Composers: Dvorak
Name of Author: unk
Year Written: unk
Web site address:
Title: Reference List:
Name of Author: Listopedia
Year written/modified: May 07, 2011
Web site address:
Title: Antonin Dvorak
Name of Author: Unknown
Year written: Unknown
Web site address: