38 Questions
What is the meaning of 'Starodávný' in the context of Slavonic Dances?
A traditional dance that is fondly remembered
Where is Moravia located?
Moravia is a historical region adjacent to Bohemia in the east of the Czech Republic
Were the Slavonic Dances intended for dancing?
No, they were intended only for listening
What are some compelling elements of the Slavonic Dances music?
Strong dance-like rhythms, contrasting melodies, and repetitious nature
What was the original form of the score provided for Slavonic Dances?
Piano solo
What are the Slavonic Dances?
A series of 16 orchestral pieces composed by Antonín Dvořák.
When were the Slavonic Dances composed?
In 1878 and 1886.
How many Slavonic Dances are there in total?
16 orchestral pieces.
What are the opus numbers of the two sets of Slavonic Dances?
Opus 46 and Opus 72.
What type of music are the Slavonic Dances?
Orchestral pieces.
What is Antonín Dvořák's most well-known work?
Symphony No.9, 'From the New World'
Where was Antonín Dvořák born?
A small village north of Prague in Hungary
How many children did Antonín Dvořák have?
Nine
What did Brahms recommend Antonín Dvořák for?
To write some Slavonic Dances for piano duet
How did Antonín Dvořák become an international celebrity?
Almost overnight in some places
What inspired Dvořák to write the Slavonic Dances?
Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dances
What important differences exist between Brahms's Hungarian Dances and Dvořák's Slavonic Dances?
Brahms used actual Hungarian folk melodies, while Dvořák used only the dance-like rhythms of Slavic folk music with his own melodies.
What musical form were the Slavonic Dances originally written for?
Piano four hands
What was the publisher's reaction to Dvořák's music for the Slavonic Dances?
The publisher was immediately impressed and requested an orchestral version.
How did the Slavonic Dances impact Dvořák's reputation?
The Slavonic Dances quickly established Dvořák's international reputation.
What was the title of the first piece by Debussy to truly declare his independence of thought?
Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune
In what year did Debussy complete his opera Pelleas et Melisande?
1902
Which poet inspired Debussy's highly innovative piece Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune?
Stephane Mallarmé
What was Debussy's compositional style known for?
Great originality
What musical movement is Debussy regarded as the founder of?
Musical Impressionism
At what age did Debussy win a place at the Paris Conservatoire?
10 years old
Who employed Debussy as a pianist in his early career?
Nadezhda von Meck
Which painters influenced Debussy in his compositional style?
Impressionist painters
What type of moods did Debussy often evoke through his music?
Languor and hedonism
What event marked the beginning of Debussy's new creative phase in 1903?
La Mer
Who did Debussy marry in 1905 after divorcing his first wife?
Emma Bardac
What illness did Debussy discover he had in 1914?
Cancer
What piece did Debussy complete before his death in 1918?
Violin Sonata
Who was Debussy's Children's Corner Suite dedicated to?
Claude Emma (Chou-Chou)
Where was Debussy staying when he observed that 'the sea behaves with British politeness'?
Eastbourne, UK
What famous composer was Emma Bardac a one-time mistress of before marrying Debussy?
Gabriel Fauré
What is seen by many as Debussy's most influential work?
La Mer
Which composer's music did Debussy consider to be his final masterwork?
Violin Sonata
Study Notes
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
- French composer and one of the most prominent figures in impressionist music
- Born on August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
- Showed an early gift for the piano and won a place at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872 at the age of 10
- Influenced by Symbolist poets and Impressionist painters, leading to a compositional style of great originality
- Regarded as the founder of musical Impressionism, using unusual voice leading and timbral colors to evoke pictorial images and moods
- Completed his first piece, "Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune," in 1894, which declared his independence of thought
- Notable works include:
- Opera "Pelleas et Melisande" (completed in 1902)
- Orchestral "Nocturnes" (completed in 1899)
- "La Mer" (completed in 1903)
- Piano music "Suite pour piano", "Suite Bergamasque", "Estampes", "Images", and "Children's Corner"
- Chamber music "String quartet", "Cello sonata", and "Violin sonata"
Children's Corner Suite
- A suite of piano pieces written by Debussy in 1908
- Dedicated to his daughter Claude Emma (nicknamed Chou-Chou)
- Consists of six pieces, including "Gollywog's Cakewalk" which is the final piece in the suite
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
- Czech composer of Romantic music, employing the idioms of folk music from Moravia and Bohemia
- Born in 1841 in a small village north of Prague in Hungary
- Grew up in a musical household and received early music education from his village schoolmaster
- Studied organ, violin, piano, and music theory at the Organ School in Prague
- Became a violist in the orchestra of the Provisional Theatre, where he met his future wife, Anna Čermáková
- Notable works include:
- Symphony No.9, "From the New World"
- Slavonic Dances (Opus 46 and Opus 72)
- String Quartet No.12, "American"
- Cello Concerto in B minor
- Opera "Rusalka"
Slavonic Dances
- A series of 16 orchestral pieces composed by Dvořák in 1878 and 1886, and published in two sets of 8 as Opus 46 and Opus 72, respectively
- Inspired by Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dances, but with a distinct difference in using characteristic dance-like rhythms of Slavic folk music instead of actual folk melodies
- Published in both piano four-hands and orchestral versions, with the orchestral version establishing Dvořák's international reputation
Learn about the life and musical works of Antonín Dvořák, a Czech composer of Romantic music known for incorporating folk music idioms into his compositions. Explore his most famous pieces including Symphony No.9, 'From the New World'.
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