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Antonin Dvorak
Serenade for Strings Op. 22, E Major
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) was one of the greatest Czech nationalist composers of the 19th century. He combined the classical tradition of German Romanticism with elements of his native folksong. The Serenade for Strings Op. 22, E Major is an example of a late 19th century cycle that became the equivalent of a symphony, but without the formality. Dvorak's music remains popular because of its intensity of emotion coupled with its fresh musical language.
In 1875 Dvorak wrote the Serenade for Strings in only twelve days. The piece is filled with rich sonorities and sentimentality verging on melancholy. Dvorak often employed two or three differing rhythms simultaneously in the same passage. One example of this occurs in the first movement during the middle section (change of key), and it re-occurs at the end of the movement. The first violins play an ornamented eighth and two sixteenth note melody, while the second violins add ascending eighth notes, as the cellos skip in an ascending octave pattern. The dance-like rhythm keeps the texture alive, although the passage becomes softer.
The second movement is a waltz and trio, which is like a mazurka in structure. Dvorak uses hauntingly beautiful melodies that are emotionally charged. Movement three is a scherzo that makes use of frequent imitation. The rhythmic verve provides the movement with sparkle. The middle section is melodic, but in the accompaniment there are many rhythmic figures used simultaneously. In contrast to the scherzo, the fourth movement begins introspectively and is like a reflective romanza. It has a wide dynamic range with multiple and florid rhythms in the melodic lines and rich harmonic sonorities, which all create a sweeping emotional message. In the last movement, the vibrant accented rhythms, often heard in imitation, are like the fiery Czech dance the furiant. The dotted rhythm that drives the movement is an example of the Lombardic rhythm of which Dvorak was fond.
-- program notes by Laurien Jones