Large Ensemble Bassoon,Clarinet,Double Bass,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 4 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1124411
Composed by Antonin Dvorak. Arranged by Ray Thompson. Romantic Period. Score and parts. 55 pages. RayThompsonMusic #725159. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.1124411).
Arranged double wind quintet/bass
The String Quartet in F major, Op. 96, nicknamed the American Quartet, is the 12th string quartet composed by AntonÃn Dvořák. It was written in 1893, during Dvořák's time in the United States. The quartet is one of the most popular in the chamber music repertoire. For the London premiere of his New World symphony, Dvořák wrote: As to my opinion I think that the influence of this country (it means the folk songs)) is to be seen, and that this and all other works (written in America) differ very much from my other works as well as in colour as in character,.
A characteristic, unifying element throughout the quartet is the use of the pentatonic scale. This scale gives the whole quartet its open, simple character, a character that is frequently identified with American folk music. However, the pentatonic scale is common in many ethnic musics worldwide, and Dvořák had composed pentatonic music, being familiar with such Slavonic folk music examples, before coming to America
Specific American influences have been doubted: In fact the only American thing about the work is that it was written there, writes Paul Griffiths. The specific American qualities of the so-called American Quartet are not easily identifiable, writes Lucy Miller, ...Better to look upon the subtitle as simply one assigned because of its composition during Dvořák's American tour.
This is my arrangement of the 4th movement: Finale (Vivace ma non troppo)
It is in a traditional rondo form, A–B–A–C–A–B–A. The main melody is pentatonic. The B section is more lyrical, but continues in the spirit of the first theme. The C section is a chorale theme.
I have adapted the string music for winds, and included some sustained horn chords. It has a similar feel to the finale of Dvorak’s wind serenade in D minor op.44.
