Composed rapidly during April of 1879 in the wake of his success with the two serenades (Opp.22 and 44), Dvorak this time incorporated Czech folk dances into his new work, which was to be for full orchestra. The term serenade, then more often associated with chanber or ensemble pieces (the Opp.22 and 44 were for strings and winds respectively) didn't quite fit and the new piece was designated the Czech Suite. It received its premiere ar the Provisional Theatre in Prague on May 16, 1879 with the theatre orchestra conducted by Adolf Cech, with Dvorak conducting it himself the next year to raise...

Dvorak's second of his three "Slovanske rapsodie" was composed from August 20 to September 17 of 1878 and received its premiere (along with the first) in Prague's Provisional Theatre on November 17 of the same year in a concert where Dvorak introduced himself as both composer and conductor. Rather than following a classical form, the rhapsodies were intended as absolute music to be enjoyed on their own terms, avoiding any external program. Though conceived as a set of three, the works have mainly been performed separately in the intervening years, which is actually somewhat in character with...

Dvorak's final "Slovanske rapsodie" was composed from around September 20 to December 3 of 1878 and was not completed by the premiere of its two companions at the November 17 Prague concert where Dvorak introduced himself as both a composer and a conductor. It was instead first performed in Berlin on September 24, 1879 conducted by William Taubert. Like its counterparts, traditional forms and programmatic associations are avoided and the music is meant to be enjoyed on its own terms. This new study score is a digitally enhanced reissue of the full score first published in 1959 by the Czech...

The "Scherzo capriccioso" was composed in the same period (1883-84) as the "Symphony No.7, Op.70" and the "Piano Trio in F minor, Op.65," in which Dvorak delved into dramatic and darker colors than those which characterize other works. The present work followed on the heels of the piano trio, completed between April 4 and May 2 of 1883. The premiere took place in Prague's National Theatre on May 16 with the NTO under the direction of Adolf Cech. Publication followed the next year with a Berlin competitor of Dvorak's main publisher Simrock, Bote und Bock. This new study score is a digitally...

Dvoraks "Stabat Mater" is a work deeply inspired by personal tragedy in the composers life. Originally sketched between February and May of 1876 as a delayed response to the death of his daughter Josefa, the work was not completed in definitive form until late 1877, in the wake of the passing of two other children (daughter Ruzena and son Otakar). The work was finally premiered on 23 December 1880 in Prague, with vocalists and chorus from the Czech Provisional Theatre conducted by Adolf Cech. The work was first published early the following year by Simrock of Berlin. The score reproduced here...

The first of the three "Slovanske rapsodie" was composed from February 13 to March 17 of 1878, followed sonn after by the secons (August 20 to September 17). Both received their premiere in Prague's Provisional Theatre on November 17 of the same year in a concert where Dvorak introduced himself as both a composer and conductor. The third rhapsody, composed from around September 20 to December 3, was not finished in time for the November 17 concert in Prague. It was premiered in Berlin on September 24, 1879 conducted by William Taubert. Rather than following a classical form, the rhapsodies...

Composed in 1891, "V P irod " (In Nature's Realm) is the first of Dvorak's three concert overtures (Opp.91-93) which were originally titled as the "Nature, Life and Love" trilogy. The first performance was given (along with its two companions) on April 28, 1892 in Prague's National Theatre with the composer conducting the resident orchestra. Composed betwwen March 31 and July 8 of 1891, Dvorak considered other titles for the work, including "In a Secluded Place," "Summer Night" and "Overtura Lyrica," before settling on the final one - which was also employed for a set of 5 partongs from 9...

The "Carnival Overture, Op.92" - second of the set of three concert overtures originally entitled as "Nature, Life and Love," followed fast on the heels of its predecessor. Work started on July 28 and the piece was completed on September 12 of 1891. The first performance was given (along with its two companions) on April 28, 1892 in Prague's National Theatre with the composer conducting the resident orchestra. The original title of the overture was "Life" which was ultimately abandoned for the more poetic "Karneval." The score offered here is a reissue of the 1955 critical edition of...