String Quintet No. 3 (Dvořák)

The Quintet in E flat major for 2 violins, 2 violas and cello op 97 Antonín Dvořák wrote between June 26 and August 1, 1893 in Spillville in the USA.

The work was premiered in Boston on January 1, 1894 by the Advanced Kneisl Quartet ( Frank Kneisl, Otto Roth, Louis Svěcenski, Alwin Schroeder and Zach ). The European premiere took place on 10 October 1894 in a concert of the Czech Chamber Music Society by the expanded Bohemian Quartet ( Hoffmann, Josef Suk, Oskar Nedbal, Hanus Wihan and Ferdinand Lachner ) in Prague.

Published by Simrock it is in Berlin in 1894.

A performance of the work usually takes around 30 minutes.

Genesis

The quintet wrote Dvořák, as well as the Quartet in F major, Op 96, 1893 during his summer stay in the small community of Spillville in the Midwestern state of Iowa. In his role as director of the New York National Conservatory, he was invited by the predominantly Czech-born residents to spend the summer in the circle of his countrymen.

The minutes of the first movement in the sketch was done from 26 June, on the score from 1 to 11 July. The second movement was written down in the sketch of 11, in the score of 12 to 20 July, the third in the sketch of 21, in the score of 22 to 27 July and the fourth in the sketch and the score from 29 July to 1 August.

Record descriptions

1st movement: Allegro non tanto

3/4-time, Tonality: E flat major

The first set follows the formal structure of a sonata form with three clearly structured basic themes in the exposition and recapitulation. Before reaching the repeat exposure to a 28 -bar introduction is provided. In it the main theme of the viola is announced by a melancholy extension of its beginning.

2nd movement: Scherzo, Allegro vivace

2/2-Takt, Key: B Major

3rd movement: Larghetto

3/8-time, Key: A flat minor

4th movement: Finale, Allegro giusto

2/2-Takt, Tonality: E flat major