New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-02


mean time removed there. Not until many
months OF discussion the young musician al
lowed to go to Prague and study music, in the
hope Of getting an organsts appointment
In October. 1851 Dvorak entered the organ school
supported by the "Gesenschaft der Klrchenmusic
in B6hmen." During these years the musicians
income very meagve. and he obtained a slight
livelihood by playing with town bands in cafes
He finally chosen a member OF the orchestra
Of the Nationa. Theatre In spite Of his draw
backs, Dvorak worked on steadily at composition.
experimenting In almost every form OF music. In
1873 he appointed organist OF s.. Adalberts
Church, in Prague. This allowed him to give up
hts orchestral engagement and to marry.
Il in this his third year. that he frs came
before the public as a composer, with this patri-
otto cantata hymn to words n Halek. Die
Erbn des Weisseu Berges In the same year
one Of two nocturnes FOR orchestra was per-
formed and I'm 1874 an entire symphony in + fiat
and a scherzo from a symphony in d minor
were given BY this time the composer had be-
gun TO make name for himself and the authori-
ties ~ the National Theatre resolved TO pro
ducs opera by him. Der Konig und der
Kdhler." After 81 rewritten II was success
fully produced In the following year pVorAk re-
ceived a pension ~ so year from the kultus-
mines5rum 81 Vler ma. This stipend, increased the
following year was the Indirect means Of procur-
ing him the friendship and reimbursement OF
Johannes Brahms. Dvorak a little later received
commission from Simrock the publisher. TO
write series OF 'SlaViSCne laUZe -ur plau0IOTle
duet. The work completed In 1875. mad almost "a
great "a success as the Hungarian dances OF
Brahms iLis success brought out several works
the composer had almost despaired OF ever seeing
I'm print. 10 evident to an musicians that a
new and fully developed composer had arisen
The London Musical Society ON March TO- 1859,
introduced his setting OF the 'Stabdt Mater
composed early as 1876 though not published
until 1851. Thu composer was melted go conduct
"a performance of the work Albert Hall,
H. 4rrrrr ny
1854 ne was again asked 20 conduct at the WoTces-
ter Festival. and az the same time received "a
commission nom the authorities 20 write a short
cautata for the years Birmingham Festival
This cautata The Spectre's Bride obtained
success This with oratorto on the subject Of
St LudmiIa. written for the leeds Festival OF
1856 was conducted by the composer himself.
Dvorak was well known in this country. having
spent several years here. From 1892 until 1895 he
was the director Of the National Conservatory Of
Music in this city In 1901 he was raised the
Hungarian House of Lords by the Emperor who IN
1895 gave him the decoration For Arts and sci
ences."
Among the composers works not already men
toned the Bohemian operas Wanda selma
sedlhk." "Turde Palice" "Dimltrieje" and The
Jacouus': secular cantata. The American
Flag; Hymn Of the Bohemian Peasants Psalm
cxx. five ymphouies, Of the best known in this
country being From the New World; three or
chestraI ballads: the overtures "NIeu Helm "Hu-
sitska." In der Natur." "Otheuo' and "Carneval.
"Slavische Rhapsodien. for orchestra, scherzo ca
priccioso for orchestra, string seXtet two string
quintets. six string quartets, string trio piano
forte quntets. quartets and trios, serenade for
wind. with cello and double bass. uotturno for
string orchestra and various vocal numbers
Sir George Groves Dictionary OF Music" says
OF Dvorak:
An lnexhaustIble wealth OF melodic Invention
and a rich variety OF cOortns are the qualities
which attract together with certain IN
eXpeCtedness. from which none OF MS works are
wholly free. The imaginative FACULTY Is very
strongly developed. that he is at his best~when
il prominent. Il must be admitted tnat his works
the regular classical forms are the least favor
able specimens of his powers W neh we CONSIDER
the bent of his nature. and the circumstances or
his early life this is not 10 be wondered at the
only wonder is that his concerted COMPOSITIONS
should be a numerous and as SUCCESSFUL as they
are As a rule. the interest Of those movements
sary Is kept up, not much by ingenious de-
veOpments and new presentments or the theme.
q by CODiOus employment OF new episodes,
the relationship Of which To the principal subjects
the movement is Of the slightest But In spite
of these technical departures from time honored
Weld 10 the influence Of the fresh charm with
which the composer invests his ideas. and in most
of his slow movements and ScherzoS there Is no
room for cavil These two important sections OF
the sonata Or symphony form, have been material
Is enriched b. Dvorak IN the introduction and
employment Of TWO Bohemian musical forms, THAI
of the ''Dumka." elegy, and the ''Furtant,'
kind of wild scherZO. Both these forms altogether
new 10 classical music. have he--- used by him
in chamber music and symphonies