Antonín Dvořák

Antonín Dvořák

1873-1904

Antonín Dvořák: Life and Music

Antonín Dvořák was a Czech composer who became famous for blending classical music with the folk traditions of his homeland. He was born in a small village called Nelahozeves, near Prague, in 1841. His family wasn’t wealthy; his father ran an inn and worked as a butcher. But music was always around, and Dvořák showed he had a real talent for it from a young age.

Early Life: Teenage Breakthroughs 

As a teenager, Dvořák moved to Prague to study music. He learned violin, viola, and composition, and later played viola in a theater orchestra. Life wasn’t easy at first. He had to teach and perform to make money, all while trying to get recognition for his own compositions. But his hard work paid off, and he eventually caught the attention of the famous composer Johannes Brahms, who helped promote his music.

Collaging Music: Energetic and Inspiring 

Dvořák became widely known in the 1870s with his Slavonic Dances, a series of lively pieces inspired by Czech and Slavic folk music. People loved them for their energy and charm. He also wrote beautiful choral works like Stabat Mater and operas such as Rusalka, which includes the well-known aria “Song to the Moon.”

Later Life and Works

In 1892, Dvořák moved to the United States to teach at the National Conservatory of Music in New York. There, he became fascinated by African American spirituals and Native American music, which influenced his compositions. While in America, he wrote his most famous piece, Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” as well as the Cello Concerto in B minor and his fairly famous “American String Quartet.” His works remain favorites in concert halls today.

After returning to Bohemia in 1895, Dvořák spent the rest of his life teaching, composing, and celebrating Czech music. He loved bringing the spirit of his homeland into his work and encouraged young musicians to do the same. He passed away in 1904 in Prague, leaving behind music that continues to inspire listeners around the world.

Dvořák’s music is full of life, beauty, and emotion. From the joyful rhythms of the Slavonic Dances to the heartfelt melodies of the New World Symphony, his compositions still speak to people today, more than a century after they were written. Thanks for reading! - Little Kenny Zhang 

Works Cited

1. “Antonín Dvořák.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antonin-Dvorak. 

2. “Antonín Dvořák Biography.” Classic FM, 

https://www.classicfm.com/composers/dvorak/. 

Written by Kenny Zhang