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DVORÁK, Antonin (1841-1904). Autograph letter signed ('Antonin Dvorák') to Baron Dr. Prazák, Prague, 25 September 1896, in Czech, referring to the symphony From the New World, acknowledging his request, announcing that he will go to his concert, agreeing to the inclusion of the symphony and recommending further music for a future concert programme, comprising some of his Symphonic Poems and proposing A Slavonic Rhapsodie or a String Serenade and discussing where to obtain the necessary scores and the number of rehearsals that will be required, 3½ pages, 8vo (175 x 116mm). Sold with a small album containing the autograph signatures of approximately 70 contemporary Czech musicians, including Dvorák, Suk and Kubelik.
In 1896 Dvorak explored the unfamiliar musical territory of the symphonic poem and from Erben's Kytice z povesti národnich [A bouquet of folktales] he chose four ballads, The Water-Goblin, The Noonday Witch, The Golden Spinning-Wheel and The Wild Dove, all written early that year. In this letter he mentions the first three, and recommends the concert programme to include '1. Carneval Overture. 2. Serenade for String Orchestra. 3. The Golden Spinning-Wheel. 4. The New World Symphony'. The symphonic poems were performed privately in June at the Prague Conservatory, after which a few revisions were made and immediately after publication (Berlin,1896), they were performed by Richter and Henry Wood in London in October and November. Dvorák himself refers to this in the letter, 'As far as The Golden Spinning Wheel is concerned, it will be necessary to turn to my publisher in Berlin, N.Simrok [sic] because this composition has not so far been performed (outside Prague)...' and to the fact that 'my most recent compositions [the Symphonic Poems] will very soon be printed.' This letter, therefore, appears to refer to plans for an early performance of these works.
We are grateful to Dr.Gordon Humphreys for his assistance in cataloguing this letter.
In 1896 Dvorak explored the unfamiliar musical territory of the symphonic poem and from Erben's Kytice z povesti národnich [A bouquet of folktales] he chose four ballads, The Water-Goblin, The Noonday Witch, The Golden Spinning-Wheel and The Wild Dove, all written early that year. In this letter he mentions the first three, and recommends the concert programme to include '1. Carneval Overture. 2. Serenade for String Orchestra. 3. The Golden Spinning-Wheel. 4. The New World Symphony'. The symphonic poems were performed privately in June at the Prague Conservatory, after which a few revisions were made and immediately after publication (Berlin,1896), they were performed by Richter and Henry Wood in London in October and November. Dvorák himself refers to this in the letter, 'As far as The Golden Spinning Wheel is concerned, it will be necessary to turn to my publisher in Berlin, N.Simrok [sic] because this composition has not so far been performed (outside Prague)...' and to the fact that 'my most recent compositions [the Symphonic Poems] will very soon be printed.' This letter, therefore, appears to refer to plans for an early performance of these works.
We are grateful to Dr.Gordon Humphreys for his assistance in cataloguing this letter.