Humoresques (Dvořák)

The eight Humoresken op. 101 ( Humoresky in Czech ) or Humoresque are a piano cycle by Antonín Dvořák completed in 1894 . Humoresque No. 7 poco lento e grazioso is probably the best-known piano work by the Bohemian composer and is often counted among the most popular piano pieces of all, along with Beethoven's Für Elise .

background

Dvořák began working on the cycle shortly after his arrival in America and completed it in 1894 during a summer stay in his residence in Vysoká . The work was originally entitled New Scottish Dances , derived from his cycle Scottish Dances from 1877 , which also gives an indication of the composer's source of inspiration: Dvořák was originally inspired by the folk music of the Scottish immigrants in the United States, but the further development of the Work prompted him to rename the piano pieces in humoresques . Although the name suggests that the pieces are humorous and cheerful, they are also characterized by melancholy passages that give the composition a great wealth of contrasts. Fritz Simrock's sheet music was first published in autumn 1894.

construction

Humoresque No. 7 , arranged by Elias Goldstein for viola and piano

The cycle consists of eight pieces:

1. Vivace , in E flat minor
2. Poco andante , B major
3. Poco andante molto e cantabile , A flat major
4. Poco andante , F major
5. Vivace , A minor
6. Poco allegretto , B major
7. Poco lento e grazioso , G flat major
8. Poco andante , B flat minor

The total length of the cycle is about 23 minutes.

Humoresque no.7 poco lento e grazioso

Humoresque No. 7 is probably Antonín Dvořák's most famous piano piece and as such is a widespread model for popular classical music . The sudden change in mood in the middle section is characteristic of the composition, as is also characteristic of the symphony From the New World, which was composed during the same period . The seventh humoresque forms the melody basis for a number of popular songs, especially for the piece A Little Spring Way with text by Hans J. Lengsfelder , which was set to music by Richard Tauber and Fritz Wunderlich , among others .

Web links

• Humoresques : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project
• Information on the humoresques at antonin-dvorak.cz, accessed October 28, 2013.
• Information on the humoresques in the online chamber music guide of Villa Musica , accessed on October 28, 2013.

Individual evidence

1. ^ David Hurwitz, Dvořák: Romantic Music's Most Versatile Genius , 2005: Hal Leonard Corporation, p. 112.
2. ↑ Michael Beckerman (ed.), Dvořák and His World , 1993: Princeton University Press, pp. 188f.