For many people, music is a method of expression. It is used to share one’s mood when words fail. Others view it as simply a work of art or a diversion. These people seek to perfect the art as though it were a piece of fine machinery. For me, music represents a link to the past and those who composed and conducted it. It is a history book without names, places, or dates to remember. I see it as an emotional history of the world. The purpose of this paper is to explore Dvorak’s symphony no. 7 in D minor, the story of its’ composition, its’ relation to the events of the past, and the differences between it and his 9th symphony in E major.
Antonin Dvorak was born on September 8, 1841 in a town just outside Prague (now a part of the Czech Republic). He was the first of nine children born to Anna and Frantisek Dvorak and as such, Antonin was expected to inherit the family butcher shop. However, Antonin’s talent for music quickly outdistanced his abilities in the butcher’s shop. His family members, who also appreciated the arts, realized Antonin’s talent and sent him to study music while he lived with his aunt and uncle. Because his family was of the working class, Dvorak sometimes ran out of money and had to take a job as a music teacher. This began to change in 1875, when Dvorak received a musical scholarship from the Austrian government, allowing him to focus his time on making music instead of money. It also put him into contact with Johannes Brahms, an already famous musician.
Dvorak’s fame grew as he spent more of his time composing music and networking with other famous musicians. In 1884, he came to the attention of the Philharmonic Society of London, which was seeking to sponsor the composition of a symphony. The honor of receiving such a sponsorship thrilled Dvorak. He agreed immediately to the terms and began work on His symphony no. 7 in D minor which premiered in St. James’ Hall the following year.
Perhaps it was the prestige of this organization which caused Dvorak to write this perfect, yet completely uncharacteristic, piece. Other critics claim that Dvorak’s pain regarding the recent death of his mother, Anna, influenced the mood and melody reflected in this symphony. Still others contend that Dvorak was working through a personal struggle at the time. Whatever the case, two things are unmistakable. The first is that this piece is perfect in form and feature. The second is that this piece is completely uncharacteristic of Dvorak’s writing.
This is a romantic symphony written in four movements: fast, slow, scherzo, and another fast. It also contains a typical arrangement of instruments. When Johannes Brahms learned that Dvorak was composing a new symphony, he wrote “I imagine your symphony will be quite unlike this one [Symphony No. 6].” (Supka, 2013) Brahms was correct. Dvorak put all his expertise into this musical work. As he said himself, the symphony “must be capable of stirring the world, and may God grant that it will!” (Supka, 2013) In order to cater to an international audience, Dvorak chose not to include slovakian melodies. Instead, he chose to use a melody which occurred to him as he watched a train pull into the station at Prague. This train was special in that it carried hundreds of Hungarians and Hungarian-Czechs on a ceremonial tour to see the national theater. (Supka, 2013) Ironically, the event which was followed closely by the international community served as the foundation for the piece which Dvorak hoped would bring him international success.
The success of this piece surpassed expectations at its’ premiere in London on April 22, 1885. Antonin Dvorak conducted the premiere himself in the St. James’ Hall. The response was immediate and enthusiastic. Even Dvorak was thrilled with his piece and the way that it was performed. As he wrote a friend, “There was pandemonium after every movement, rousing to the very end, just like at home, in fact. . . . It was such a shame that you could not witness so wonderful a performance!” (Spuka, 2013) The newspapers, with the exception of the London Times, sung his praises. The directors of other orchestras quickly recognized this symphony as the masterpiece that it was and played the piece in their own halls. Dvorak was permitted to conduct the symphony only months later in the theater in Prague. As popularity for Dvorak’s works surged, his publisher Fritz Simrock recommended that Dvorak focus only on writing piano pieces and slovakian dances. His reason for this suggestion was that there is more money in that area. Dvorak responded that if a musician were in the business of making money, he would definitely follow Simrock’s advice. However, Dvorak was not in the business of making money. He wanted to make a difference.
I for one am glad for his decision because Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E major, while different from symphony no. 7, also made an impact on the international community. Dvorak’s 9th symphony was written during his time as director of the New York Philharmonic. The first difference between the two pieces is the tone. Dvorak’s 7th symphony sounds melancholy and wondering, a stark contrast from his 9th symphony which contains abundant energy. Another difference lies in the choice of melody. It was customary for Dvorak to write his pieces around a nationalistic melody. This is the case with his 9th symphony, as he states, “It is merely the spirit of Negro and Indian melodies which I have tried to reproduce in my new symphony.” (Supka, 2013) His 7th symphony lacks all of these nationalistic elements, making it a romantic symphony rather than a nationalistic symphony. The most quantifiable difference, however, is Dvorak’s use of the pentatonic scale in his 9th symphony. This scale contains only five notes, instead of the seven notes on the Europeans’ scale. (Spuka, 2013) This gives the pieces completely different rhythmic sounds.
Dvorak was the first born of a butcher, who decided to dedicate his life to music instead of the family business. Until 1875, it was hard for Dvorak to make ends meet, but his luck changed with his application for a scholarship from the Austrian government and with a subsequent relationship with Brahms. This gained him recognition even before his Symphony No. 7 in D minor was composed for the Philharmonic Society of London. The respect which Dvorak had for this society and his desire for fame led him to compose a piece worthy of international recognition. The melody was taken from a political event in Prague, which contributes to the differences which can be detected when compared to Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E major. Regardless of the differences, Dvorak was able to give us a part of history through his composition. A history which will last forever.