Today's concert presents three different works. The first celebrates a traveler's experience in a New World. The second not only shows us the pomp and circumstance of a Royal Coronation, but the enthusiasm of the conductor as he guides his group in the joyous art of making music. The final piece revisits the first composer as we hear an earlier work which features the instrument played by my sister.
In 1892 antonin Dvorak was offered the posisiton of Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York. He went, also with a purpose to "discover American Music". In the winter and spring of 1893, he wrote perhaps his most well-known work, his 9th Symphony, Fron The New World. I was also the lead bassoon in High School when we played this on our European Concert Tour way back in 1983.
In America Dvorak discovered the music of Native Americans and African-Americans and declared that it was within their music that Americans would find their own nationalist music. Here Dvořák met with Harry Burleigh, one of the earliest African-American composers, his pupil. Burleigh introduced traditional American Spirituals to Dvořák at the latter's request. The second movement is so reminiscent of a spiritual that William Arms Fisher wrote lyrics for it and called it "Goin' Home".
Unfortunately, this movement was broken in two, although it has been done logically, so here's the second part:
Dvořák was interested in indigenous American music, but in an article published in the New York Herald on December 15, 1893, he wrote, "[In the 9th symphony] I have simply written original themes embodying the peculiarities of the Indian music." Neil Armstrong took a recording of the New World Symphony to the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission, the first Moon landing, in 1969.
He spent the summer of 1893 with his family in the Czech-speaking community of Spillville, Iowa, to which some of his cousins had earlier immigrated. While there he composed the String Quartet in F (the "American"), and the String Quintet in E flat, as well as a Sonatina for violin and piano.
Over the course of three months in 1895, Dvořák wrote his Cello Concerto in B minor. However, problems with Mrs. Thurber about his salary, together with increasing recognition in Europe — he had been made an honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna — and a remarkable amount of homesickness made him decide to return to Bohemia. He told Mrs. Thurbur, who still owed him his salary, that he was leaving. Dvorak and his wife left New York before the end of the spring term with no intention of returning.
This is a different orchestra, so the movement is split in two. But it's von Karjan!
Our next piece was written for the coronation of Edward VIII of Great Britain. When he abdicated before his coronation, the composer, Sir William Walton, tweaked it and it was the offician Coronation March for his Royal Brother, George VI, father of Elizabeth II, the current Queen. I have been assigned to conduct this piece for the massed bands in our Community Band Festival. I only hope I do as good a job as Reginald Houze, director of the Angelo State University Wind Ensemble in San Angelo.
Our final piece is one that my orchestra will be playing this spring. We return to Dvorak, this time with his 8th Symphony. I almost like it better than the New World. Here is a recording from 1977 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta. Feel free to comment on the 1970's disco hairstyles and facial hair. On a side note, check out the amazing flute player.
This was written in the late 1880-early 1890's before his trip to America. I'll give you three guesses as to who his major musical influence was at this time. The answer before the finale...
This movement is SO czech--bohemian, bittersweet, and with just a little bit of that slavic dance beat.
Cellos!! I hear the opening theme after the fanfare and I think of my sister. This is SO Brahms, who was one of Dvorak's influences at the time. Once again, check out the amazing lead flautist!