new world symphony Flashcards
(20 cards)
Dvorak dates
1841-1904
what type of piece is NWS
A programmatic symphony
Dvorak background
- what inspired the symphony?
A czech composer from Bohemia
Nationalist composer
best known for NWS, wrote in America
His experience there (discovery of African- American and native- American melodies) and his longing for Bohemia inspired the symphony
who sang trad spirituals to him?
An African- American student, Harry Burleigh, who he had met as director of the national conservatory, sang traditional spirituals to him
what dates was he in America?
- what was he jib there
- where did he travel to and why?
He was in America from 1892-1895, working as the director of the conservatory of music in America.
- He travelled whilst he was there- went further west than New York, where the conservatory was based.
- Made it to Iowa, where he listened to as much Native American music as possible.
Native American key features
Native American features including; repeating drum patterns and drones, repeating drum ostinatos (drum wars), use of pentatonic scale.
- what did he find out about American music roots?
- what was he influenced by?
- what did he later deny?
He found out that the roots of American music were not European, but instead african- American.
- He was influenced by ‘negro spirituals’ which featured long, lyrical melodic lines, homophonic textures and harmonies.
- However, he later denied any of his music was influenced by African- American spirituals.
structure
4 movements; Adagio, Largo, Scherzo and allegro.
what structure is the first mvmt in?
The first movement is in modified sonata form.
mvmt 1 themes and keys:
uses multiple themes which flit between each other rapidly (themes not subjects). The exposition (1st mvmd ) is based on three separate themes: the ‘question and answer’ like theme, in e minor ; th second in g minor, resembling a Czech polka. The third in g major, known for being similar to african- American spiritual ‘swing low, sweet chariot”
what does the opening of mvmt 2 create (atmosphere)?
- where does he repeat this?
mvmt 2 begins with a chromatic harmonic sequence, giving a sense of dark and brooding feel.
- later repeats these opening dissonant chords (b22), but just in the woodwind= higher pitched instruments with a higher tessitura.
where is there a plagal cadence?
what is it reminiscent of?
Plagl cadence - bar 20 chord 4- b21 chord 1. this religious sound is reminiscent of spirituals
what plays the main theme?
what’s the accompaniment?
why?
A solo cor anglers plays the famous main theme in d flat major, accompanied by muted strings. Dvorak was said to have changed the theme from clarinet to cor angles as it reminded him of the voice of Harry Burleigh (timbre)
what’s heard in bar 6 mvmt 2 and what key is it in?
Theme 1 from first movement, now in C sharp minor is heard from bar 96
- concluded with a soft return of the introductory chords.
structure anf form of mvmt 3:
mvmd 3- a scherzo written in ternary form (ABA) with a coda at the end.
what piece of literature does mvmt 3 draw from?
mvmt 3 draws from long fellows poem ; the song of H rawatha’ from 1855, about the new world and native Americans.
structure and key of mvmt 4?
- what does it consist of- effect?
mvmd 4- modified sonata form, overall key of E minor
- reuses a lot of themes from previous movements
- therefore is a summation of the entire composition-coherent unity and provided a comprehensive and exciting conclusion.
were there programme notes?
the symphony was played without programme notes
what happens in bar 333? (mvmt 4)
bar 333- in the trumpet and high trombone, themes fro. movement 1 and movement 4 are played against each other.
what’s the effect of triplets and syncopation?
where is this heard?
Use of dotted rhythms and triplet weavers, e.g bar 46- provided a syncopated and frantic dance- feel
