Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Antonin Dvorak - Humoresque No.7 (Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman)




"Humoresque (or Humoreske) is a genre of romantic music characterized by pieces with fanciful humor in the sense of mood rather than wit. Notable examples of the humoresque style are Schumann's Humoreske in B-flat major (Op. 20, 1839), and Dvořák's set of eight Humoresques (Op. 101, 1894), of which the one in G-flat major is well known."
(above, Wikipedia)



The most famous of Antonin Dvorak's short pieces, and one of the most romantic and moving works of music I've ever heard, "Humoresque" was a series of eight orchestral movements. They were written in the Summer of 1894 when Dvorak was 53 years old and back with his family in his native Bohemia.

The then-world famous composer was taking a break from a three-year stay in America, where he was the head of New York's Conservatory of Music. He spent a good deal of his free time absorbing and distilling American music and worked and learned with white and black musicians.

He had also headed orchestras as a guest conductor Moscow, London and Birmingham England.

He also composed the famous folk and African American-spiritual based "New World Symphony" at about this time.

8 comments:

  1. Very nice, I enjoyed it very much

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Fred. I was glad to find a video with such a great pair of musicians.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been to two both were back in New York City, and I will never forget in being there the sound as it's something that I really have never taken too mind but one of my friends back from Syracuse was a professional violinist that played in Winnipeg as well as accompanied some other performances now he teaches music. But there is really something to this music, for myself I in sitting in it's something that is really tremendous music. Nothing can compare to it. Thanks for this share. I am wondering if this is the same person that was featured during the closing ceremonies of just a few days ago. Regardless, now some of the high definition videos really are exceptional. As this was to listen to.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I quite agree Jack. Must be amazing to hear something like this live.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brilliant. Bravo!

    I've loved Perlman's work for a long time now. His rendition of the theme from the film 'Schindlers List' is trully mind numbingly wonderfull. The pathos he manages to convey I've yet to hear from any other.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Glad you enjoyed this growed! It brought a smile and a lump to my throat.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I quite agree Jim. I don't think I've heard anything like his work--certainly not on this beautiful composition. And his work on the music in "Schlindler's List" was miraculous.

    ReplyDelete