Czech Suite (Dvorák)
Encyclopedia
The Czech Suite in D major, Op. 39 was composed by Antonín Dvořák
in 1879 and published later in his life. Adolf Čech, who was soon to conduct the first performance of the D major symphony
that would be published as Symphony No. 1, in 1880, gave the premiere. (Čech also conducted the premiere of the composer's piano concerto
in 1878. )
Dvořák had only recently become introduced to Fritz Simrock
by Johannes Brahms
but had already become displeased with several of his new publisher's business practices, including releasing older works with high opus number
s, implying they were new. He offered this work, recently written, to Simrock with a somewhat earlier number (that of works he'd written a few years before) as part of his response.
The suite consists of five movements
as follows:
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
in 1879 and published later in his life. Adolf Čech, who was soon to conduct the first performance of the D major symphony
Symphony No. 6 (Dvorák)
Czech composer Antonín Dvořák composed his Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60, B. 112, in 1880. It is dedicated to Hans Richter, who was the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. With a performance time of approximately 40 minutes, the four-movement piece was one of the first of...
that would be published as Symphony No. 1, in 1880, gave the premiere. (Čech also conducted the premiere of the composer's piano concerto
Piano Concerto (Dvorák)
The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G minor, Op.33 was the first of three concertos that Antonín Dvořák completed—it was followed by a violin concerto and then a cello concerto—and the piano concerto is probably the least known and least performed....
in 1878. )
Dvořák had only recently become introduced to Fritz Simrock
Fritz Simrock
Friedrich August Simrock, better known as Fritz Simrock was a German music publisher who inherited a publishing firm from his grandfather Nicolaus Simrock...
by Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
but had already become displeased with several of his new publisher's business practices, including releasing older works with high opus number
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
s, implying they were new. He offered this work, recently written, to Simrock with a somewhat earlier number (that of works he'd written a few years before) as part of his response.
The suite consists of five movements
Movement (music)
A movement is a self-contained part of a musical composition or musical form. While individual or selected movements from a composition are sometimes performed separately, a performance of the complete work requires all the movements to be performed in succession...
as follows:
- Preludium (Pastorale): Allegro moderato (D major)
- Polka: Allegretto grazioso (D minor)
- Sousedská (Minuetto): Allegro giusto (Bb major)
- Romance: Andante con moto (G major)
- Finále (FuriantFuriantA Furiant is a rapid and fiery Bohemian dance in 2/4 and 3/4 time, with frequently shifting accents.The stylised form of the dance was often used by Czech composers such as Antonin Dvořák in the eighth dance from his Slavonic Dances and in his 6th Symphony, and by Bedřich Smetana in The Bartered...
): Presto (D minor)