jmc's classics
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) is mainly known to non-classical fans for his Ninth Symphony "From the New World" (Opus#95). It first premiered in 1893 and is inspired by Longfellow's poem Hiawatha. He wrote 14 string quartets which are still popular.
The same year his 12th quartet "American" (Opus#96) premiered. it was also written during his time in America. The third movement of this was inspired by birds chirping while in Spillville, Iowa. It took him only about a month to complete this work. some other works it has taken years to complete! This is his most popular string quartet. His later quartets are the more popular ones Quartets 9-14. They are now in the standard repetoire. The early quartets are not as popular. Some of them are long and one lasts over an hour. Dvorak's early symphonies are not as popular as his later ones. I am not familiar with Dvorak's early string quartets There are a lot of excellent recordings available of the Dvorak String Quartets. I have a copy on the 14th and 12. It is of the Cleveland Quartet on the Telarc label. Both works last 21-25 minutes and are in four movements. The 14th was completed in 1895 before he completed his 13th string quartet. He was still in America when he wrote this work. Dvorak spent about 2 years in America from 1893-95. He was in New York City and in Spillville, Iowa which had a large Czech immigrant community. While in America, he drew inspiration for some of his works.
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