Dvorák’s Piano Quartet in E flat major Op.87 – 1 mvmt Allegro com fuoco

Having the style and relevance of Richard Wagner’s music been discussed in the last post, we shall proceed now to the discussion of the style of a composer very much influenced by the latter – Antonín Dvorák.

Antonín Leopold Dvorák (1841-1904) was a Czech composer of the Romantic period. Deemed a nationalist, he frequently used features of traditional folk songs of Moravia and his native Bohemia. 

The bulk of his work is constituted by operatic and chamber music. His piano works are included in the larger group of his works for chamber music, and comprise two piano quintets,  two piano quartets and four piano trios.

Dvorák’s early works were influenced by the Romanticism of Schubert and Beethoven; later, his compositions show tones of Lizst’s Romanticism and Wagner’s Neoromanticism – which may be noticed particularly in his string quartets and quintets.

Very passionate about his native land, Dvorák drew on Moravian, Slavonic and traditional Czech music to compose his pieces.

In the piece that follows, Wagner’s tinge can be noticed in the way the composer builds up tension in the chromatic progressions, as well as the influence of Tchaikovsky’s music in the dreamy hues and the majestic aura. A piece of breathtaking beauty.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJUpcnuDzI