Composer

:

Antonin Dvorák

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Dance

Compose Date

:

Mar 18, 1878 - May 7, 1878

Publication Date

:

1878

Average_duration

:

34:41

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

Antonin Dvorák's Slavonic Dances (8) for piano, 4 hands, B. 78, Op. 46, is a set of eight dances that were composed in 1878. The work was premiered in Prague on April 2, 1878, with the composer and his friend, the pianist Karel Slavkovsky, performing the piano duet. The Slavonic Dances are divided into two sets of four dances each. The first set is in C major, while the second set is in G minor. Each set includes a polka, a furiant, a sousedská (a Czech folk dance), and a skočná (a fast dance). The Slavonic Dances are characterized by their lively rhythms, catchy melodies, and colorful harmonies. Dvorák drew inspiration from the folk music of his native Bohemia and other Slavic regions, and he incorporated elements of these styles into his compositions. The first set of dances begins with a polka in C major, which features a playful melody and a lively rhythm. The second dance is a furiant in C minor, which is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and dramatic contrasts. The third dance is a sousedská in A-flat major, which has a more relaxed tempo and a gentle, flowing melody. The set concludes with a skočná in C major, which is a fast and energetic dance with a driving rhythm and a lively melody. The second set of dances begins with a polka in G minor, which has a more somber and melancholy character than the first set's polka. The second dance is a furiant in D minor, which is more intense and dramatic than the first set's furiant. The third dance is a sousedská in B-flat major, which has a more upbeat and cheerful character than the first set's sousedská. The set concludes with a skočná in G minor, which is a fast and lively dance with a driving rhythm and a catchy melody. Overall, the Slavonic Dances are a lively and colorful set of compositions that showcase Dvorák's skill as a composer and his love for the folk music of his native Bohemia and other Slavic regions. They remain popular with audiences and performers alike, and they continue to be a staple of the piano duet repertoire.

More....