Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841-1904) was a Czech
composer. Following the nationalist example of
Bedřich Smetana, Dvořák frequently employed
features of the folk music of Moravia and his native
Bohemia (then parts of the Austrian Empire and now
constituting the Czech Republic). Dvořák's own
style has been described as 'the fullest recreation of
a national idiom with that of the symphonic tradition,
absorbing folk influences and finding effective ways of
using them'.
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Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841-1904) was a Czech
composer. Following the nationalist example of
Bedřich Smetana, Dvořák frequently employed
features of the folk music of Moravia and his native
Bohemia (then parts of the Austrian Empire and now
constituting the Czech Republic). Dvořák's own
style has been described as 'the fullest recreation of
a national idiom with that of the symphonic tradition,
absorbing folk influences and finding effective ways of
using them'.
Among Dvořák's best known works are his New World
Symphony, the "American" String Quartet, the opera
Rusalka and his Cello Concerto in B minor. Among his
smaller works, the seventh Humoresque and the song
'Songs my mother taught me' are also widely performed
and recorded. He composed operas, choral music, a wide
variety of chamber music, concerti and many other
orchestral and vocal and instrumental pieces. He has
been described as 'arguably the most
versatile...composer of his time'.
The song Ave Maria is a setting of the traditional
liturgical text and is written for a low-register voice
with organ accompaniment. Dvorak wrote it while staying
with his friend Alois Gobl at Sychrov castle in the
summer of 1877. He dedicated the song to his wife Anna,
who premiered it on her name day (26 July) in the
castle chapel, accompanied by the composer at the
organ. The song was first published in 1883 by Prague
publisher Emanuel Stary.
Although originally written for Alto/Baritone & Organ,
I created this arrangement for String Quartet (2
Violins, Viola & Cello).
