Dvořák
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) was a Czech composer who blended folk music traditions with Classical forms to create a distinctive national voice.
In Depth
Dvořák rose from humble beginnings as a butcher's son in rural Bohemia to become one of the most celebrated composers of the late Romantic period. His Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," composed during his time as director of the National Conservatory in New York, is one of the most performed symphonies ever written. His chamber music, including the "American" String Quartet, is equally beloved.
His mastery of orchestration and melodic invention drew on Czech folk music, spirituals he encountered in America, and the Austro-German symphonic tradition. His Cello Concerto in B minor is widely regarded as the greatest work for that instrument. Brahms championed his early career, recommending him to the publisher Simrock.
Dvořák was an avid trainspotter who memorized locomotive timetables and would send students to the station to record engine numbers for him.