大象传媒

Donald Macleod traces the important friendship Dvo艡谩k established with African American singer and composer Harry T Burleigh.

Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k became the first Czech composer to achieve global fame. His gift for transforming the folk styles of his native Bohemia into richly romantic classical music won him admirers far beyond his homeland. Consequently, Dvo艡谩k was approached to leave Europe and serve as director of the newly established National Conservatory of Music in America. His sponsors hoped he would help foster a new and distinctive American musical style, less reliant upon Germanic traditions. During his time in America, Dvo艡谩k composed many of his most celebrated works, including his Ninth Symphony and his Cello Concerto. This week, Donald Macleod focuses on Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 American years and uncovers what he achieved there.

1893 was Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 first full year working in America and his new surroundings were beginning to inspire him. A theme from his Sonatina for violin and piano was written down when Dvo艡谩k was visiting the Minnehaha Falls. At the Conservatory in New York, Dvo艡谩k encountered a young singer and future composer, Harry T Burleigh, who enjoyed singing spirituals in the halls. The older man was struck not only by Burleigh鈥檚 distinctive voice but also by the songs that he was singing. Could this be the sort of music he鈥檇 been looking for in his quest to establish an authentic American musical language? The two quickly became firm friends. When Dvo艡谩k later unveiled his Ninth symphony, he revealed he鈥檇 found inspiration in African American music, and subtitled his work, 鈥淔rom the New World鈥�.

Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 鈥淔rom the New World鈥� (excerpt)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Sonatina for violin and piano, Op 100 (Larghetto)
Randall Goosby, violin
Zhu Wang, piano

Trad. arranged by Harry T. Burleigh
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Karen Parks, soprano
Wayne Sanders, piano

Trad. arranged by Harry T. Burleigh
Go Down Moses
Paul Robeson, bass baritone

Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 鈥淔rom the New World鈥� (Largo)
Sapporo Symphony Orchestra
Tadaaki Otaka, conductor

String Quintet, Op 97 鈥淎merican鈥� (excerpt)
Pavel Haas Quartet
Pavel Nikl, viola

Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 鈥淔rom the New World鈥� (Allegro con fuoco)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock