Dvořák: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3, B 9 "The Bells of Zlonice" (with Score)

Antonín Dvořák:
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 3, B 9 "The Bells of Zlonice" (with Score)
Composed: 14 February - 24 March 1865
Conductor: István Kertész
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
00:00 1. Maestoso - Allegro (C minor)
19:01 2. Adagio molto (A-flat major)
32:43 3. Allegretto (C minor)
41:26 4. Finale: Allegro animato (C major)
While, in terms of its instrumentation, Dvořák’s first symphony looks more to what was then the modern Neo-Romantic trend, from a formal point of view it betrays the influence of Schubert and Beethoven. The composer observes the classical arrangement of the four-movement scheme, with the first movement in sonata form; the second, lyrical movement is written in a slow tempo, the third has the character of a scherzo, and the fourth movement combines sonata and rondo principles. The sequence of keys chosen for the individual movements, C minor - A flat major - C minor - C major, is even a reference to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 (C minor as a principal key does not figure in any of Dvořák’s other cyclical works hereafter). Despite the undisputed influence of the Viennese classics, the composer’s distinctive compositional style is already in evidence. We will recognise it particularly in the pastoral lyricism of the slow movement, whose main theme in the solo oboe rising above a soft string accompaniment is one of the strongest inspirations in the work, in Dvořák’s sense of the full orchestral sound, and in the rhythmic vitality of the music.
Dvořák’s Symphony No. 1 is typical for its youthful flights of fancy and the rousing expression of the work as a whole, although the individual movements still demonstrate a tendency to ramble. The work’s subtitle “The Bells of Zlonice” is reflected directly in the score - the sound of the bells of the church in Zlonice is heard in a stylised form in the very introduction of the symphony as a succession of striking chords from the entire orchestra playing at full strength. Dvořák introduces an idiosyncratic rhythmical figure which first accompanies the main subject in the first movement, and later appears in the following three movements; it then opens out fully in the coda of the final movement. This principle of reminiscence, which the composer applied here for the first time, was later used in a number of works, to greatest effect in Symphony No. 9. Also noteworthy is the frequent exposure of the brass instruments which, particularly in the first movement, lend the work a ceremonial, almost flamboyant sheen. The composer later used some of the themes from the symphony for his piano cycle Silhouettes, Op. 8; the above-mentioned rhythmical motif even occurs twenty-five years later in the Dies irae from Dvořák’s Requiem.
www.antonin-dvorak.cz/en/work...

[@edoardosaccenti4829]

If Dvorak had written this symphony 25 years later it would have been a real masterpiece

[@dionbaillargeon4899]

The only reason it's not considered a masterpiece in its own right is because the other ones are even better, IMHO.

[@FreakieFan]

This guy writes a 300 bar 6 minute long exposition section, and then fully repeats it? Hahaha, mad lad.

[@klop4228]

Probably part of why it didn't win the competition it was sent to lol. Still a great piece, though!

[@jirikajzar3247]

It was left out in other recordings. I think it works better that way...

[@fadhel_hizham]

It's actually 278 bars

[@garrisoncluff5367]

You should look at a Beethoven symphony. He writes 100 bars then repeats it, as just 1 theme in the exposition. I have a score video on my channel from his 1st Symphony, movement 1.

[@adabarda203]

@@klop4228if this piece didnt win the competition, which tf did it then?

[@beeshin9945]

His 1st symphony is even a masterpiece. Unbelievable

[@bentleealessandro2078]

i dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know a trick to log back into an instagram account?? I was dumb forgot the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me

[@theodorebowie6298]

@Bentlee Alessandro Instablaster :)

[@canman5060]

A master piece by the 23 year old.

[@oliviaspaulding9713]

All of his symphonies are masterpieces

[@rodrigoherreramunoz9248]

Fantastic symphony, there is a small passage in the fourth movement with very unique and strange harmonic progression, and the final part is very crazy !!

[@emmamcallister1743]

How is this the first time I've heard this symphony, seriously where has this been all my life?

[@francescodalnegro3833]

Dvorak himself never heard it played, because the partiture went lost and then found when he was gone. This is my favourite piece of classical music

[@arturdankovsky8293]

If I may ask you - how old are you? but still... the same!

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

Buried under the 8th and 9th.

[@michaelowens5394]

Thank you for adding this! This has been one of my 3 favorite pieces of music for 30 years. Everything about it delights me.

[@tompatierno5606]

What are the other 2?

[@michaelowens5394]

@@tompatierno5606 Bach's Goldberg Variations, and Alkan's Symphony for solo piano

[@oliviaspaulding9713]

Dvorak’s pieces in general delight me. He is my all time favorite composer

[@derianalveswolanski9855]

We know how crazy (in a good way) Dvorak was, when he have the corage to writte a Symphony as his op.3

[@dylanpaquette5167]

Beautiful symphony, one of Dvořák's best!

[@AcaciusR]

Aint no way dude wrote his first symphony at Op. 3😭🙏

[@xoxo-ok7jp]

Thank you for such a good quality!

[@justinradford4858]

When you get halfway through the finale and it is interrupted by an 'adopt a donkey this xmas' advert. Sigh...

[@ImVee10]

Well? DID YOU?

[@justinradford4858]

@@ImVee10 yep. 3 of them

[@ImVee10]

@@justinradford4858 😂😂 🫏

[@justinradford4858]

They don't say much. Fanatical about hay. Each to their own I guess

[@garrisoncluff5367]

I love the fact that he uses a big orchestra with low brass. Even if there's no tuba in the 1st movement.

[@DressedForDrowning]

Great recording of a wonderful symphony!! :-)

[@Purpleninja7707]

I've had the first few measures of movement 1 stuck in my head all week. Would be such a sick opener to a Marching Band show! (DCI???)

[@MrInterestingthings]

Amazing how looking at the score I hear more ,get more of what Dvorak is doing see motifs, rhymes but I always tell students to listen first then go back with score .

[@brandtbecker1810]

Once in awhile, Dvorak leaves me scratching my head regarding his orchestration, especially in the brass section. Here, the 3rd and 4th horns suddenly drop out in the Finale - just where you'd think all of the orchestral resources would be put to use. Then there's the three rather than four (or two) horns used in the Cello Concerto. Following that is the one measure run of 16th notes in the trombones towards the end of #8. Lastly, we have the [in]famous 14 tuba notes sounded at the beginning and at the end of the second movement of Symphony #9. Can anyone else add any "oddities" in Dvorak's orchestral music?

[@cdiegorodriguez]

He includes a cymbal in the New World Symphony, and then has it play exactly one note in the finale. At mezzo forte.

[@FreakieFan]

@@cdiegorodriguez Including percussion instruments to only use them once in a movement or symphony is not that uncommon. Just look at Bruckner's symphonies.

[@ChristianP06]

That one 3-bar piccolo solo in #9’s 1st mov, the one really long held note in the piccolo in #8’s 1st mov, the 3-bar English horn solo in #8’s 1st mov, the short passage for bass clarinet solo in #5’s finale

[@icebearisicebear]

@@cdiegorodriguez And he didn't even make clear which beat he want's the cymbal hit to be on in the manuscripts. Different editions of the scores put the hit on either beat three or four the of the bar in the finale.

[@derianalveswolanski9855]

his whole Piano Concerto which can be considered more a symphony than a concerto! (but it's my favorite Concerto from Dvorák)!

[@anangryjuicebox2799]

38:12 38:28 39:27 0:27 5:53 44:17 11:16

[@drgustavbakter4735]

This work does sound like the work of a gifted music student. It badly needs doing up and polishing. It has some good monents, though and it is excellently played.

[@vincentyovian5480]

4:12

[@JJC333]

I think this piece sounds like Schubert would live longer about 68 years old to compose a symphony.

[@fernandoviniciusnascimento4372]

does someone know why the two sets of horns are in different tunings? Eb and F, dont recall seeing it before

[@jagp135]

Was quite common in Beethoven's time, but a bit outdated by Dvorak's day. Maybe he wanted to pay homage to that?

[@TheMaestro2005]

Not every orchestra modernized their horn sections during this time. Composers around this time were still writing for traditional horns and valved horns at the same time.

[@Khai_ser]

Symphony No. 1in C minor Op. 3, B.9 "The Balls Of Zelensky"

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

🇺🇦

[@fadhel_hizham]

45:21 bar 271 to 278 missed timpani sound.

[@MssWalewska1]

Why this ads??? 🤤🤬

[@Lircking]

idk about this one chief

[@evilBreadD-jf9go]

Jesus Christ at least have the decency to put the ads in between movements and not directly in the music!!! Unbelievable 👿

[@solcarzemog5232]

Uglyest symphony ever

[@dixiedaniel9762]

why?

[@DressedForDrowning]

I don't understand why you feel this way. I love it!! 🙂

[@DressedForDrowning]

I pondered still a bit about your comment. Why did you say this? I think, it's because this is not an easy listening music. It's very hard to "come into it". I needed 30 rounds of listening, till I come inside this symphony. After that, it squirred around in my head for weeks. 🙂

[@martinsaroch3512]

I think Mahler 9 is worse

[@LeonardoCalderon-pb2ff]

i think you said it because of the f***ing ads

[@organman52]

'rhythmical motif?' - so wrong. First of all, 'rhythmic' is correct, not 'rhythmical.' Secondly, it's MOTIVE, not motif. Motif is appropriate in decorating and architecture. And what are the 'experts' going to do about the adjective form? Motific ? Horrific.

[@patrickbecker4473]

Did you maybe think about the fact that not everyone uses the English language daily?

[@jessemcree7311]

Well... i think they're synonyms

[@organman52]

@@jessemcree7311 not really. But okay.

[@andrewwoods7673]

'Motif' is correct. See the quote "The rhythmic motif may be defined by analogy with the melodic type: a short, characteristic sequence of accented and unaccented or short and long articulations, sometimes including rests" in the following Groves Music Dictionary entry: www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000019221#:~:text=Motif%20%5Bmotive%5D&text=A%20short%20musical%20idea%2C%20melodic,its%20identity%20as%20an%20idea

[@FreakieFan]

Shut the fuck up, elitist grandstanding prick. It's even more hilarious since you are wrong. Motif is a perfectly correct word to use in this scenario.