How The 'New World' Symphony Introduced American Music To.
Exploring the New World through Antonin Dvorak's Music Essay - Antonin Dvorak was one of the leading composers of the late Romantic period and one of many composers that utilized portions of music from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds in his compositions.The idea of Music Nationalism can be found in many of his works, especially in his Symphony no. 9 in E minor “from the New World”, which incorporates ideas from the American culture. Antonin Dvorak was born on September 8, 1841 in the small village of Nelahozeves.He was taught music by local schoolmasters and with Antonin Liehmann at Prague's Organ School at the end of the 1850s. For many years during the 1860s he earned a modest living by playing the violin in the Bohemian Provisional Theatre Orchestra which was conducted by Bedrich Smetana from 1866.
Brahms, his friend and mentor, had just completed his third symphony and Dvorak - a newly elected honorary member of the Philharmonic Society of London - received a commission for a new symphony. But if you believe the stories, it was on one of his daily trips to Prague’s busy railway station that the enthusiastic trainspotter finally found his inspiration.As he began to delve deeper into the world of African-American music, he filled an eleven-page composition sketchbook. Dvorak composed his ninth symphony, the New World Symphony, while in New York City. He was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to compose it. In it, the African-American influence is notable.
ASSIGNMENT: You must include in your paper a description of the musical piece, information about the composer’s life, and an explanation of why you liked the piece or not.
