From the New World, Symphony 9, II. Largo
Listening Guide
Embedded Files
Performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Georg Solti conductor
Composer: Antonin Dvořák
Composition: "From the New World," Symphony 9, movement 2, Largo
Date: 1893
Genre: Symphony
Performing Forces: Symphony Orchestra
What we want you to remember about this composition:
- The theme. The "coming home theme" is said to possibly be from a negro spiritual or Czech folk tune. It is introduced in what some call the most famous English horn solo.
Other things to listen for:
- The weaving of these very beautiful but simple melodies. Listen to how "western American" the piece sounds at times. The influence of American (western, spirituals, and folk) had a profound influence on Dvořák's compositions.
Timing
Timing
Performing Forces, Melody, Texture, and Form
Performing Forces, Melody, Texture, and Form
Brass choral with string chord transition
English horn solo (theme 1) then woodwind transition to brass chords.
Theme is passed around then returns to English horn
Flute and oboe perform theme 2 over string tremolo, then clarinet duet above pizzicato strings.
Strings then perform theme 2 [followed by] a transition
Theme/melody 3 played by violins—very smooth and connected
Oboe, clarinet, then the flute perform yet another theme, violins, cellos and basses—Light folk dance style in nature.
Trombones enter with the first theme from the first movement; then trumpets and strings overlap with other earlier themes from the work.
These style and compositional techniques create a very "western" sounding work.
English horn solo reintroduced followed by imitations in the strings (two silences) then scored reduction to a trio.
Violin, viola, and cello trio.
Transition in winds and strings.
Opening chords without trumpets it is much darker sounding.
Winds and strings pass the melodies around with ascension.
Final three part chord in the double basses.
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