String Sextet (Dvořák)

History#

The period 1875–79 was very important in Dvořák’s life. The composer received government grants in that time, which enabled him to concentrate solely on composing. A sense of responsibility led him to hard and prolific work, The composer was present and was enchanted by the performance. The next day he wrote to his friend Alois Göbl: “…Joachim waited with eagerness for my arrival and even organized a soirée for my sake. During the celebration they played my new quartet and sextet. They played with great understanding and enthusiasm…” Joachim and colleagues gave the public premiere of the work in Berlin on 9 November 1879. A few months later, in February and March 1880, they also performed it in London. The composition was published by Fritz Simrock in 1879; the critical edition of the work was printed in 1957.

Structure#

The composition consists of four movements: The work was composed at the same time as the Slavonic Rhapsodies (Op. 45) and Slavonic Dances (Op. 46). Written in similar style, it can also be called “Slavonic”. Two inner movements are partly stylisations of the dumka and partly of the folk furiant. The first movement is written in the sonata form, and the last part is composed in the form of variations, in a soft, meditative mood.

Selected recordings#

• Quintet No. 2, String Sextet. Supraphon 1992. (11 1461-2 131). (Panocha Quartet)

External links#

• Info on a comprehensive Dvorak site
• Performance of String Sextet by the Musicians from Marlboro from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format
• English info