Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

Nationality: Czech

Born: September 8, 1841, Nelahozeves, Bohema Died: May 1, 1904, Prague (age 62)

wikipedia | imslp | antonin-dvorak.cz

2 Waltzes for String Quartet, Op. 54, B. 105

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Moderato
		II.	Allegro vivace

Duration: 7 minutes (approximately)

Composed: 1880 (age 38-39)

Related Composers

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

mentor

Nationality: German

Born: May 7, 1833, Hamburg Died: April 3, 1897, Vienna (age 63)

Josef Bohuslav Foerster (1859-1951)

Teacher

Nationality: Czech | Bohemian

Born: December 30, 1859, Prague Died: May 29, 1951, Vestec (age 91)

Josef Leopold Zvonař (1824-1865)

Teacher

Nationality: Czech | Bohemian

Born: January 22, 1824, Kublov, Bohemia Died: November 23, 1865, Prague (age 41)

Josef Suk (1874-1935)

student, son-in-law

Nationality: Czech

Born: January 4, 1874, Křečovice Died: May 29, 1935, Benešov (age 61)

Vítězslav Novák (1870-1949)

Student

Nationality: Czech | Bohemian

Born: December 5, 1870, Kamenice nad Lipou Died: July 18, 1949, Skuteč (age 78)

glossary

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
moderato [I], moderamente, modéré [F], modérément [F]—moderately, at a moderate tempo, applying a touch of restraint to its related word(s), e.g. allegro moderato
opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
quartet, quatuor [F], quartett [G], quartetto [I]—ensemble or work for four players the most important examples being the string quartet and the piano quartet
string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I]—an ensemble as well as music written for that ensemble comprising 2 violins, viola and cello. This is one of the essential genres / forms / ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical "core" of "classical" music.
Explore the string quartet.
transcription, transcribe—To re-score a work for an ensemble of instruments different from the original version. Typical examples include orchestrating piano or chamber works and visa versa. Within the realm of chamber music, a work for winds might be transcribed for strings, a symphony into a string quartet, a trio featuring a clarinet substituting a viola. One interesting question is: who made the transcription, the original composer? One interesting effect is that the transcription may become favored over the original. One of the most curious transcriptions in all of chamber music is Schoenberg's "Verklärte Nacht", transcribed from string sextet to piano trio with amazing success by one of his students.
vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro
waltz, valse, walzer, alla valse—a popular dance introduced in Vienna in the 1780s usually in 3/4 time. wiki