Dvořák: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60, B 112 (with Score)

Antonín Dvořák:
Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60, B 112 (with Score)
Composed: 27 August - 15 October 1880
Conductor: Václav Neumann
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic
00:00 1. Allegro non tanto (D major)
13:46 2. Adagio (B-flat major)
24:19 3. Scherzo (Furiant): Presto (D minor)
32:41 4. Finale: Allegro con spirito (D major)
The Symphony in D major, which appeared within a mere seven weeks in late summer and autumn 1880, is the sixth of Dvorak’s nine symphonies. However, for a long time it was regarded as the “First”, since it was Dvorak’s first work of this genre to come out in print (with the Berlin-based publisher Simrock). Even though it is somewhat overshadowed on the concert platform by the composer’s last three symphonic masterpieces, in reality, this symphony, too, represents one of a series of Dvorak’s magnum opuses in the symphonic genre. In the context of the development of the composer’s symphonic style, this undertaking indicated that he was entirely confident in his approach to the four-movement composition, a form he had now mastered. While the previous Symphony in F major still betrayed a certain lack of stylistic cohesion, here Dvorak had finally achieved a flawless style throughout. The work is distinguished for its rich, lyrical melodies, great diversity, lively rhythms and also for its full, colourful orchestral sound. The symphony is the consummate result of the influence of classical forms combined with what was now a crystallised, distinctive compositional style.
The mood of the entire symphony is warm and tranquil and it portrays the composer in his most characteristic guise. With its inspiration from Czech folk music and its stylisation of the furiant - a fiery folk dance - in the third movement, it is considered a major representative of the composer’s so-called Slavic period. The symphony is sometimes given the nickname “Czech”, and conductor Vaclav Talich liked to call it the “Christmas” symphony, perhaps a reference to the lyricism of the slow movement. Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, written three years earlier, is often cited as a major source of inspiration: the outer movements of both symphonies share not only their key, metre, tempo markings and orchestration, but also their overall mood. One can presuppose, however, that the positive atmosphere of the work is a reflection of Dvorak’s situation in life at that time: now almost forty, after many years of endeavour, the composer had managed to break out onto the Czech and international concert scene (Slavonic Dances in London, the third Slavonic Rhapsody in Berlin, among others), he had cemented his friendship with Johannes Brahms (Brahms had even paid the Dvoraks a visit in Prague not long before this), and his wife had given birth to their daughter Anna. In addition, important musical institutions had begun commissioning works from him. This was also the case of Symphony in D major, which Dvorak wrote at the request of Chief Conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic, Hans Richter, one of the principal promoters of Dvorak’s works on the international scene.
www.antonin-dvorak.cz/en/work...

[@tsessebe]

Dvorak's scherzi are pure genius, and this symphony's third movement is no exception.

[@Mezzotenor]

This gets my vote for the greatest symphonic scherzo ever. the third movement.

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

It was blessing in disguise. When Dvorak went to America he left Brahms and created his utterly unique Symphony 9, The New World. Anton needed to get away from Bohemia and get fresh inspiration. He got it. The world is better for New World Symphony. Thank you , Maestro Anton Dvorak!

[@maexxtex4924]

How wrong U are! With his 9th symphony he expressed his extreme homesickness because he was forced to stay longer in America then necessary!

[@mrman5066]

It's just such a nice symphony! The very opening knows exactly what it's trying to do and it does it so well. While Dvorak truly explored lyricism and narrative to its best I think with the New World Symphony, this symphony is just so undeniably eloquently articulate and beautiful.

[@dzinypinydoroviny]

Awesome! The first movement seems to be inspired by the first movement from Beethoven's symphony no. 3.

[@samdajellybeenie14]

There's a part towards the beginning of the first movement that sounds a lot like Beethoven 8 too!

[@porcinet1968]

@@samdajellybeenie14 there's little resonances of Beethoven 3 and 8 plus a passage that could go into Brahms 1st at one point.

[@jacobsumner3694]

@@porcinet1968 the last movement is very similar to the last mvt of brahms 2nd, especially the beginning. same key too.

[@nicholasfox966]

Really? Seems rather explicitly inspired by the first movement of Brahms 2.

[@spasmadorfsounds555]

It occurs to me that the first movement is very Beethovenian, may be inspired by the first movement of the Eroica Symphony. Dvorak conglomerated with Beethoven surely turns out to be amazing.

[@martinwest2538]

This is absolutely my favorite of the Dvorak symphonies! Indeed I like it even better than the worn-out New World symphony. I'm especially fond of the tremendous eruption in the second movement (Tempo I at 18:46), but in this version it's played so very indolently and carefully as not to engulf any details - which there in fact really aren't.

[@arturdankovsky8293]

really?

[@maexxtex4924]

It's also my favorite symphony! In general Dvorak is my favorite Czech composer.

[@angowong1407]

41:50

[@musicshin2]

I hear malher in some parts lol

[@Der_Komponist]

Eine sehr schöne Sinfonie, eine Sinfonie wo mal die Dramatik hier nicht die Hauptrolle spielt. Würde ich verglichen mit der 6. Sinfonie von Beethoven. Dürfte ich sie benennen, dann würde ich ihr den Namen die Bergwanderer Sinfonie geben, oder die Bergwanderung.

[@maxbarbalat4779]

Warun Bergwanderung ?

[@Der_Komponist]

​@@maxbarbalat4779 Ich meinte damit, dass dieses Musikstück eine Bergwanderung darstellt, oder es beschreibt sehr gut eine Bergwanderung, oder klingt so, finde ich zumindest. Und deswegen würde ich der Sinfonie diesen Namen geben, wenn ich das natürlich dürfte. Das ist genauso wie bei der Alpensinfonie von Johann Strauß.

[@maxbarbalat4779]

@@Der_Komponist Ach so

[@karlstumpfi4065]

​@@Der_Komponist Richard Strauss

[@KoenigPixel]

Symphonie**

[@zelayaelijah]

The first movement kinda sounds like Schumann

[@zhaoweiqu]

11:15

[@PaulGordonBusby]

Some nice music, especially the third and fourth movements. But you can tell Dvorak was a violinist - good string (and woodwind) parts, but what boring parts for the trumpets, as in so much classical music.

[@timbredan3476]

Hold my trumpet -Shostakovich

[@ethansmusic]

I am writing an orchestral piece and like you said, as a string player I find it difficult to write interesting parts for trumpets and brass in general. Do you have any tips regarding this? Thanks!

[@PaulGordonBusby]

@@ethansmusic I'm used to writing for big bands in jazz but am hopeless at writing for strings. Anyway, have you thought of using brass mutes - harmon, cup, bucket, plunger, straight, etc to name those used most often. They can combine nicely with woodwind, such as flutes and clarinets as they deaden the brassy sound. Hope this helps.

[@ruramikael]

Interesting trumpet parts can you find by Liszt, Wagner and Bruckner.

[@richfarmer3478]

And Richard Strauss​@@ruramikael

[@lyolevrich]

KZbin became a nightmare!! Advertising break up masterpieces with extreme high volume...incivilization and degradation