Composer

:

Antonin Dvorák

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Dance

Compose Date

:

Apr 1878 - Aug 22, 1878

Publication Date

:

1878

First Performance

:

May 16, 1878

Average_duration

:

6:58

Antonin Dvorák's Slavonic Dance No. 4 for orchestra in F major, B. 83/4, Op. 46/4 was composed in 1878. It premiered on April 2, 1878, in Prague, conducted by Adolf Čech. The piece is part of a set of eight Slavonic Dances, which were inspired by traditional folk music from the composer's native Bohemia. The Slavonic Dance No. 4 is a lively and energetic piece, characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms and folk melodies. The opening theme is introduced by the strings and is then passed on to the woodwinds and brass. The second theme is more lyrical and is played by the cellos and violas. The two themes are then developed and combined in various ways throughout the piece. The dance is in a traditional A-B-A form, with the A sections featuring the opening theme and the B section featuring the second theme. The piece is notable for its use of hemiola, a rhythmic device that creates a cross-rhythm by grouping notes in groups of three instead of the usual two or four. The Slavonic Dance No. 4 is a prime example of Dvorák's ability to blend traditional folk music with classical forms and techniques. The piece is full of energy and vitality, and its use of folk melodies and rhythms gives it a distinctly Bohemian flavor. It remains a popular and frequently performed work in the orchestral repertoire.

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