Antonin Dvořák (da-VOR-zhak) came from Bohemia, the area later known as the Czech Republic. His childhood was spent among the country folk. His father was a butcher who played the zither for weddings. Antonin played fiddle along with his father, and he learned the songs and dances of his people. He used these melodies in his music which was immediately popular with his countrymen. His music is cheerful and full of folk melodies that appeal to many of us.

Dvořák spent three years in New York as a director of the National Conservatory of Music. He was surprised to learn that he was expected to lead the development of an “American” style music. He began by listening to “folk” music. He especially liked the music of African Americans and sang their spirituals with them. Some people said that he used themes from spirituals in the second movement of the New World Symphony. Dvořák insisted that he composed only in the “spirit” of the music.

Dvořák also visited "middle America." He had a secretary, Josef Kovarik, who had spent his childhood in Spillville, Iowa, a Bohemian community in northeast Iowa. Josef wished to return to his hometown for a visit and he suggested that Dvořák travel with him. Dvořák was happy for the opportunity to visit with American people who spoke his language and knew his culture, so he spent the summer of 1893 in Spillville, Iowa.

Dvořák played the organ in the large Catholic church that his people attended. That organ is still played for the services in the church. There is also a museum in the house where the Dvořák family lived that summer. You can see photos of the family and of Chief Big Moon who visited Spillville with his Powwow and Medicine Show. Dvořák was impressed with the Native American music.

 It was there in Spillville that Dvořák composed a beautiful string quartet and a string quintet, both known as the American. If you ever visit Spillville, Iowa, go to Riverside Park and look for a monument to Dvořák, commemorating his 1893 visit to their town.

Dvořák wrote his New World Symphony No. 9 in honor of his American visit. We think it sounds American, but it is said that his own people think it sounds like Czech music. It is quite an accomplishment to be able to sound Czech-American!

• Movement No. 1 Theme 1 - Play for the People - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 1 Theme 2 - With the Gypsies I Want to Stay - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 1 Theme 3 - Music Calls Me - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 2 Theme 1- Antonin Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 2 Theme 2 - I Miss You So, My Country - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 2 Theme 3 - Antonin, Darling, Please Speed It Up - Dvorak
     
• Movement No.3 Theme 1 - Welcome to Spillville - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 3 Theme 2 - Antonin, Happy Again - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 3 Theme 3 - It’s Back to New York - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 4 Theme 1 - Chief Big Moon Powwow - Divorak
     
• Movement No. 4 Theme 2 - Antonin, Baby - Dvorak
     
• Movement No. 4 Theme 3 - How I Love the Woods - Dvorak