The premiere of the 'New World' Symphony in 1893 was a huge success, with critics calling it 'the greatest symphonic work ever composed in this country' and a 'role model for American composers'.
Composition History
The 'New World' Symphony was composed entirely on American soil, with Dvořák stating it 'would never have been written 'so' if I had never seen America'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Antonín Dvořák believed that the future of American music should be founded on what he called 'Negro melodies,' considering them the folk songs of America.
Composition History
Dvořák's overture 'My Home' is based on two popular songs, one of which, 'Where Is My Country?', became the Czechoslovakian national anthem in 1918.
Composer Biography
Dvořák's publisher, Simrock, often Germanized his first name on scores and used high opus numbers for older works, which displeased the composer.
Compositional Technique
Dvořák's 'New World' Symphony incorporates characteristics of Native American and African American folk music, such as pentatonic themes, flattened leading notes (blues notes), and syncopated rhythms.
Cultural Impact
The famous Largo theme from the 'New World' Symphony became very popular in the United States under the title 'Going Home' after Dvořák's pupil, William Arms Fisher, added words to it in 1922.
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