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I. Allegro con brio
mm. 190-194 |
Skills & Techniques: Dynamic Contrast Marcato Style, Rhythms, Tonguing Flexibility
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Horn 1-2 (F)
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London Symphony Orchestra (1963)
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RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (2014)
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Composer & Composition Information
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
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During the last years of his life the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) was considered by many throughout the Western world to be the greatest of all living composers. And his popularity has never waned: his music still speaks to us today and occupies a conspicuous position in performance repertoire.
In part this merely reflects the fact that his oeuvre is extraordinarily large and varied. He was one of the most prolific of all great composers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and left substantial outputs in practically all major genres from short piano pieces to operas. Even within genres, moreover, we find an astonishingly broad range of style – in string quartets, for instance, from the mind-boggling chromatic intensity of some passages in early and middle-period works to the Finale of the “American” Quartet with its down-home, rollicking barn dance. However, the quantity and diversity of Dvořák’s output are complemented by its generally very high quality, with many of his works holding a place among the greatest musical achievements of their time – or perhaps any time. His music probes the depths and all the nooks and crannies of our emotions, making us cringe in agony and weep with sorrow, but also laugh and smile through tears of rapture. Further adding to his appeal is his life’s story as a ”self-made” man who, through talent, hard work, and indefatigable determination overcame poverty and low social standing to become an artist admired (and well compensated financially) all over the Western world. The text & image are reprinted from Dvořák American Heritage Association where more information about the composer can be found. |
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Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, B. 163
The year 1889 was a particularly happy and productive one for Antonín Dvořák. During that summer, he began to sketch ideas for his Eighth Symphony at his country house in Vyoská. Ideas came to him so quickly that he complained he could not set them down fast enough. He completed the symphony’s sketch between September 6 and 23, and finished the scoring on November 8 in Prague. Dvořák conducted the premiere of his Eighth Symphony there in April 1890 as part of his induction into Emperor Franz Josef’s Czech Academy of Science, Literature, and the Arts.
The first movement of the symphony virtually overflows with thematic ideas. Particularly striking and colorful is the introductory theme heard in the cellos. It returns before and after the development section. The main themes of this movement are varied in character and rich in Czech flavor. There is particularly effective woodwind writing during the development section.
The text is written by & reprinted from Dr. Michael Fink (Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra) where more information about the composition can be found.
The first movement of the symphony virtually overflows with thematic ideas. Particularly striking and colorful is the introductory theme heard in the cellos. It returns before and after the development section. The main themes of this movement are varied in character and rich in Czech flavor. There is particularly effective woodwind writing during the development section.
The text is written by & reprinted from Dr. Michael Fink (Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra) where more information about the composition can be found.
Notable Performances/Recordings:
BBC Symphony Orchestra (2017)
Prague Symphony Orchestra (2005)
Scottish Orchestra (1985)
Los Angeles Philharmonic (1938)
BBC Symphony Orchestra (2017)
Prague Symphony Orchestra (2005)
Scottish Orchestra (1985)
Los Angeles Philharmonic (1938)