Critical and cultural reception Symphony No. 6 (Dvořák)

1 critical , cultural reception

1.1 in vienna
1.2 in europe
1.3 @ home

critical , cultural reception
in vienna

in vienna in 1879 (a year before intended premiere of symphony), political shift happening. newly elected austrian parliament allowed regions conduct education , official government business in predominant language of each region, posing seeming threat german language , german cultural dominance in general.

while few years earlier dvořák might have been judged acculturated german, in 1879 increasingly considered czech , threat established dominant german culture in vienna. previous works, such moravian duets, slavonic dances , slavonic rhapsody popular in many other countries in europe @ least in part “exoticism.” climate in vienna becoming quite unwelcoming of compositions issued non-germanic roots, works obvious references other nationalities (such furiant in symphony no. 6.) “….(i)n vienna musical exoticism had played elsewhere ran head-on political crisis engendered liberals’ recent loss of power.” main reason established, elite vienna philharmonic did not premiere dvořák’s symphony no. 6. first performed in vienna in 1883 gesellschaft der musikfreunde, wilhelm gericke conducting.

in europe

the piece liked audiences , critics in of europe. “not long after simrock published d major symphony, performances taking place in half dozen different countries, , new work received contribute towards establishing dvořák 1 of foremost composers of generation.”

english music critic ebenezer prout described symphony in 1882 review “(a) work that, notwithstanding imperfections, must considered 1 of important of kind produced time. performance characterized immense spirit, , audience unreserved in token of appreciation.” dvořák’s symphony no. 6 popular in england. dvořák traveled london in 1884 conduct program including symphony no. 6 royal philharmonic society. trip success , royal philharmonic society made dvořák honorary member few months later, commissioning symphony him. joseph bennett, writing review of dvořák’s works london musical publication in 1884, had of him: “dvořák’s success in england affords matter congratulation. have him new , not mischievous…that founded…upon natural expression of people’s musical nature. more of dvořák better, therefore, , indications deal of him awaits us.

view of prague.


at home

the success dvořák experienced abroad recognized in homeland. in 1878 led concert consisting entirely of own works in prague, received. while dvořák criticized not being nationalistic enough own countrymen, in april, 1881, critic dalibor, czech paper, wrote: “this new dvořák symphony excels on others of same type within contemporary musical literature….in truth, work (symphony no. 6) has imminently czech nature, dvořák continues along basis of great , fluent power, tree of decorated ever more beautiful fruits of creation.”