Antonín Dvořák - Polka (B. 3)

Описание

"The Polka, B. 3, seems to be Dvorák’s earliest surviving piano piece, probably written in 1860 after a visit to the Zlonice Fair, the mood of which is reflected in the mood of the piece." - Naxos.com
The piece remained unpublished until 1961, hence is classified with B. (often used to indicate potsthumous works).
Key: E major

Antonín Leopold Dvořák was born on 1841 in Nelahozeves (near Prague) from a humble family.
His father noticed his musical abilities and encouraged him playing the violin from the age of six and organ in the following years.
Once graduated, he joined the Bohemian Theater Orchestra (often conducted by Bedřich Smetana), but left after several years to focus on composing.
Thanks to his compositions, he was noticed by Johannes Brahms, who introduced him to his publisher that commisioned him one of his most famous works: the Slavonic dances (1878).
in 1890 he toured in russia and in 1892 he went to New York, where he became the director of New York City’s National Conservatory of Music.
Here he had the occasion to become friend with groups of native americans, which inspired him for his 9th symphony ("From the New World") and his 12th string quartret ("American").
In 1901 he returned to Prague and became director at the Prague Conservatory.
He maintained this position until his death in 1904 for heart failure.

Dvořák style was strongly influenced by the Bohemian and Catholic cultures and inspired by Wagner and Brahms (even if, in some compositions, he took as model Beethoven works).

Performer: Inna Poroshina

Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLQI9gavCyk
Score: https://imslp.org/wiki/Polka%2C_B.3_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k%2C_Anton%C3%ADn)