Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” is a thrilling piece to experience live, not just because of its captivating melodies, but because of the way it captures the essence of two worlds colliding—Old Europe and the vibrant, untamed spirit of America.
This ultimate piece of Americana grew out of an attempt to create an American style of composition. To this end, a visionary patron of the arts named Jeannette Thurber founded a National Conservatory in New York and engaged Dvořák as its director. Dvořák arrived with his wife and two eldest children in September 1892 and threw himself into teaching, composing, and absorbing America.
Since Dvořák was a “nationalist” who grounded his own music in Czech folk tradition, he was naturally curious about the folk music of America. The nickname ‘From the New World’ or ‘New World Symphony’, as it is commonly referred to, comes from Dvořák explaining that the symphony offers ‘Impressions and greetings from the New World.’ When you attend a live performance, you are instantly drawn into a musical journey that mirrors Dvořák’s own experience as a Czech composer exploring the New World.
During his travels, Dvořák was inspired by the rhythms, melodies, and spirit of American music, particularly Native American music and African American spirituals, with one of the main examples of this being the partial quotation from ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ in the opening movement.
The Symphony is remarkable for its sheer number of memorable tunes, nearly all of them are the sort that you hum going home from the concert, a testament to Dvořák’s inspired melodic invention. Dvořák insisted that while he took inspiration from folk music, he borrowed no actual melodies.
The music plays with memory, both in the way that melodies from the first movement, say, return in every successive movement, but also with a larger idea of reminiscence and nostalgia.
The first movement opens with a hauntingly beautiful theme, introduced by the strings and then picked up by the winds. This theme feels like a call across vast, open spaces—a perfect reflection of the American frontier. Hearing it live, you can almost feel the tension between the familiar European symphonic tradition and the new, unfamiliar influences Dvořák was absorbing. The energy in the hall is palpable as the orchestra builds from a quiet, reflective opening to a powerful, full-bodied statement.
One of the most exciting moments in the symphony comes in the second movement where the famous English horn solo plays the melody now known as the “Going Home” theme. The mournful yet hopeful tune, with its deep ties to African American spirituals, resonates in a way that recordings can’t capture. The warmth of the English horn’s tone in a live hall creates an intimacy that feels as though the music is speaking directly to you, simultaneously evoking a sense of longing and comfort. This is one of those moments in live performance where time seems to stop.
The third movement brings a lively dance, full of the rhythmic vitality that Dvořák admired in the music of Native Americans. This scherzo is full of syncopation and unexpected turns, and when experienced live, the interplay between different sections of the orchestra becomes a visual and auditory delight. The musicians exchange musical phrases like a conversation, and the sheer joy of playing such a rhythmically engaging piece is evident in their performance.
Finally, the fourth movement brings the symphony to a thrilling conclusion. The movement bursts with energy and drama, weaving together themes from earlier movements in a triumphant, unifying finale. Live, the power of the brass section is awe-inspiring, and the relentless drive of the strings propels the music forward, keeping you on the edge of your seat. As the symphony reaches its dramatic finale, the collective energy of the orchestra and audience creates a sense of shared experience that is unique to live performance. Simply put, this is one of the most exciting endings in symphonic music.
Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony is more than just a piece of music; it’s a story of cultural exchange, of homesickness and hope, of discovery and identity. Seeing it live allows you to be a part of that story, to feel the emotions that Dvořák poured into the music, and to witness the artistry of the musicians bringing it to life. The symphony becomes a dialogue between past and present, between the old world and the new, between the composer and the audience—making the live performance a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Hear the New World Symphony Performed Live
Don’t miss this incredible piece performed live by your Colorado Symphony and Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian at Boettcher Concert Hall September 13-15, 2024. Hear it alongside Berlioz’s Roman Carnival and Gershwin’s Concerto in F with soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
