Presents
Antonin Dvorak
Notturno in B Major for String Quintet, Op.40
(2 Violins, Viola, Cello and Bass)
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) needs no introduction. He is one of the best known composers of all time. However, today, his fame rests upon only a few of his works which are repeatedly performed in concert such as his Symphony No.9, The New World and in the realm of chamber music his Op.96 string quartet, The American, and his Piano Quintet in A Major, Op.81.
The Notturno started out life as the slow movement, Andante religioso, of his String Quartet, No.4 in E minor completed in 1870, However, Dvorak decided to rewrite a different slow movement for the quartet, but then reused what was to become the Notturno in his String Quintet No.2 in G Major, Op.77 which he completed in 1875. Originally, that work, which was for the same instrumentation, had two slow movements, however, once again Dvorak withdrew this movement from the quintet but then reworked it into a Notturno for String Quintet which was published in 1883 by his regular publisher, Simrock. Simrock, as always, with an eye toward sales, offered it with very minor changes in a version for string orchestra. Not satisfied with that, Simrock encouraged Dvorak to make versions of the work for violin and piano as well as piano four hands. Since Simrock was paying him, Dvorak was only too happy to comply.
The work is in the key of B major, and is for sometime quiete and very calm . After a simple introduction in octaves, there is a long section featuring a winding melody which creates a sense of anticipation that leads to a short animated episode. Afterwards, the calm atmosphere of the opening returns to quietly close the work.
It is the orchestral version which has become well-known and frequently recorded, however, it lacks the intimacy and charm of the quintet version, which we are pleased to make available here.
Parts: $15.95
Parts & Score: $19.95
