Biography and Chief Works of 

Antonin Dvorak

1841.

Born near Prague (Czecho-Slovakia).  Father an innkeeper and butcher.  

Played the violin in father's band, and sang in parish church.  

Learnt music from village schoolmaster.

1857.

Sent to the Organ School at Prague, where heard and played works by Schumann and Wagner.

1859.

Joined a concert band in Prague, and then the theatre orchestra, in which he stayed till 1871- Smetana soon became its conductor.  

Composed steadily, though individual qualities not yet evident.

1873.

Early compositions becoming known.  Began to teach composition.  

Happy marriage - had six children.

1875-6.

Influenced by Smetana became conscious of his Czech musical heritage.  

Compositions became simpler and began to show individual characteristics.  

Wrote several good chamber works, some using the " Dumka ", a national dance.  Czech songs.  'Stabat Mater'.  Given a state grant, but compositions only known in his own country, and none published. 

1877.

Brahms saw his compositions, and helped to get some published.  The two composers became friends.

1878.

Wrote a series of Slavonic dances, and began to use more Czech dances, such as Polka and Furiant, in his chamber and symphonic works.

1884.

First of several visits to England.  Conducted 'Stabat Mater' and a symphony and other works.  Great popular success.  

Wrote a new symphony for the London Philharmonic Society, and 'The Spectre’s Bride' for Birmingham.  Bought himself a house in Southern Bohemia.

1884-1890.

Composed many works: a good deal of chamber music, including the ‘Dumky' trio; the symphony in G (no. 4); the Requiem; etc.

1890.

Another series of visits to England, where he received an honorary degree at Cambridge, and gave the first performance of the Requiem in Birmingham.  

England's appreciation gave him courage to continue with his own kind of music, when pressure was being put on him to adopt Germanic styles and to live in Vienna.  Also visited Russia and Germany, and was given various Czech honors.

1891.

Became professor of composition at Prague Conservatoire, thus helping future Czech composers.

1892.

Invited to New York to direct the Conservatoire of Music.  Stayed for three years.  Appreciated as teacher, conductor and composer.  He hoped to develop an American school of composition.  

Wrote the 'New World’ symphony, inspired by "Hiawatha", and containing melodies of Negro or Red Indian type.  Also the 'Nigger' quartet, the 'cello concerto, and other works.

1895.

Returned to Prague Conservatoire, and was made its Director in 1901.  Wrote symphonic poems and operas, based on Czech legends.

1904.

Died in Prague.

A simple peasant, with regular habits, such as that of going to bed early. Loved nature.  

Very "Slav-conscious", and created much Czech and Slavonic music.  Did not use or imitate folk tunes, but wrote his music in the same style.  One of the most tuneful of composers, who also had a good sense of orchestration.  

Used plenty of counter melodies, with a wide range of dynamics, and effective woodwind parts.  But never attained a wholly integrated style, or the power of organic development possessed by Brahms.  

Followed on the classical composers, preferring Beethoven and Brahms to Wagner and Liszt.  His best-known works are his chamber music and his symphonies.

Nine symphonies, of which the best known are the D minor, op. 70 (no. 2), the G major. op. 88 (no- 4), and the E minor, 'The New World' (no. 5). (The numbering is peculiar, and number 5 is the last.  For easier reference, the numbering has been revised so that no. 2 is now known as no. 7, no- 4 as no. 8 and no- 5 as no. 9.)

Violin concerto; 'cello concerto in B -minor; and other concerted works less frequently played.

Three linked concert overtures: 'Amid Nature'; 'Carnival'; and 'Othello'; some others recently discovered.

Slavonic rhapsodies and dances, symphonic poems, and other similar works.

Much tuneful and attractive chamber music: 8 string quartets, including the 'Nigger' quartet; some string quintets, the best known of which are op. 97 with 2 violas, op. 77 with double bass; a string sextet; a popular piano quintet; 2 piano quartets; 4 piano trios, including the 'Dumky' trio; and others.

Choral works: 'Stabat Mater'; Requiem; 'The Spectre's Bride'; and others.  

A number of operas, rarely performed outside Czecho Slovakia.

A number of slighter works, for violin and piano (including the sonatina); piano solo (including the Humoreskes); piano duct (including the Slavonic dances); songs (including the 10 'Biblical songs'), and 7 Gypsy Songs (no. 4 is 'Songs my Mother taught me’.)