AUCKLAND FESTIVAL

New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 530, 19 August 1949, Page 20

AUCKLAND FESTIVAL

'T'HIS is the last of three articles written for

"The Listener’ by

BESSIE

POLLARD

each discussing in outline an important sym-

phonic work to be heard during the Auckland season of the National Orchestra.

( 3) Symphony No.5 in E Minor, Op.95 (‘From the New World’’) Dvorak FROM 1892-95 Dvorak taught composition at the National Conservatory in New York and the New World Symphony was one of the creative results of this American visit. Although some of its themes may have been influenced by Negro or American folk tunes, the general character of the music is essentially that of a simple-hearted Czech, homesick for his native land. Three notebooks were used by Dvorak in the creation of the Symphony, In the first of these he noted "Morning, December 19, 1892"; fuller sketches began on January 10, 1893, the slow movement being then subtitled Legenda. The Scherzo was finished by January 31 and the Finale by May 25. A large part of the scoring was done at Spillville, Iowa, where there was a colony of his Bohemian fellow countrymen. The premiére took place at a concert of the Philharmonic Society of New York on the afternoon of Friday, December 15, 1893. The first movement begins with a 23-bar introduction (Adagio)-then~ the main theme of the Allegro molto is heard from the horn ("A" below); another melody of which much is made in the working-out section is given out by flute and oboe ("B" below)-

The second subject-said to be derived from the Negro spiritual Swing Low Sweet Chariot, is announced by flute, and then taken over by strings-

The slow movement-Largo-opens with a 4-bar majestic introduction, then we hear the famous main theme from the cor anglais ("A" below), Later woodwind instruments give out_a plaintive undulating tune ("B" below)-

The Scherzo (molto vivace), decidedly Slavic in character, again has a 4-bar introduction, followed by a piquant first section ("A" below). The middle part ("B" below) has a delightful melody in the manner of a peasant dance-

The Finale (Allegro con fuoco) is full of strength and splendour; during its course we hear echoes from the preceding movements. "A" and "B" below give two of the Finale’s main themes- :

Dvorak’s Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op, 95 ("FROM THE NEW WORLD") will be presented at the second Auckland concert of the National Orchestra, conducted by Andersen Tyrer, this Tharsday, August 18.