Born near Prague, Dvorák studied the violin with the local school master.

Then, in 1857, he attended the organ school in the city. He was influenced by the Czech composer Smetana who directed the Opera Orchestra in which Dvorák played the viol.

Then, with the positive encouragement of Brahms, he devoted most of his life to composition.

Later he became a professor of composition at the Prague Conservatoire.

From 1892 until 1895 he served as the director of the new National Conservatory in New York City, America, a period in which his compositions show his deep interest in American folk music.

He made several trips to England where he was very popular and much admired.

He received many honours in his own country and resisted invitations by Brahms to move to Vienna where he was only grudgingly accepted.

Dvorŕk wrote nine operas, the first in 1870 and the last completed and staged in 1903.

This "New World Symphony" derived some inspiration from a Czech translation of Longfellow's poem "Hiawatha".

- MIDI FILE - from Symphony n.9 "From the New World": 1th mov. (9'15'')

His works for solo instrument and orchestra include an important Cello Concerto, a Violin Concerto and a slightly less well known Piano Concerto.

The Romance for solo violin and orchestra, and "Silent Woods" for cello and orchestra, make interesting and attractive additions to solo repertoire for both instruments.

Other orchestral works include two sets of "Slavonic Dances", arrangements of works originally designed for piano duet, and three "Slavonic Rhapsodies".

Overtures include "My Home", "In Nature's Realm", "Othello", "Hussite and Carnival".

To this one may add the "Scherzo capriccioso" of 1883, a Polonaise, written 4 years before, and the splendid Serenade for Strings of 1875.

The "Symphonic Variations" meet the challenge of an apparently intractable theme and the 10 Legends were orchestrated by the composer from his original piano duet version.

To this may be added the symphonic poems "The Noonday Witch", "The Golden Spinning-Wheel" and "The Wild Dove", works that seem to explore new ground, with their narrative content.

Dvorák left 14 string quartets, of which the best known is the so-called "American Quartet", n. 12 in F Major, written in 1893, the year of the Symphony from the New World.

The composition of Quartets ns. 13 and 14, in 1895, probably took place during the same period.

- MIDI FILE - String Quartet op.51:

- 1th Mov. (9'59'')
- 2nd Mov. (5'34'')
- 3rd Mov. (5'47'')
- 4th Mov. (6'27'')

From the American period comes the G major Sonatina for violin and piano, its second movement sometimes known as Indian Lament.

Of the four surviving piano trios the fourth, nicknamed the Dumky because of its use of a Bohemian national dance-form, is the best known, closely rivalled in popularity by the third.

Dvorák's quintets for piano and strings or strings alone offer further pleasure, with the String Sextet and the charming Terzetto for two violins and viola.

The best known of all the pieces Dvorák wrote for the piano must be the Humoresque in G flat major, the seventh of a set of eight.

Close to this come the two sets of Slavonic Dances for piano duet.

Dvorák wrote a number of songs and a popular set of Moravian Duets for soprano and contralto.