Dvorak Part Songs HANDBOOK.pages

Part-Songs of Antonín Dvorák (1841- 1904)
Table of Contents:
In Nature’s Realm/ Songs of Nature/ V Prírode, Op. 63:
1. Napadly Písne
3. Žitné pole (Summer song)
Moravian Duets, Op. 32
1. A já ti uplynu (The Fugitive)
2. Velet’, vtáčku (Fly Sweet Songster)
3. Dyby byla kosa nabróšená (The Slighted Heart)
4. V dobrým sme se sešli (Parting Without Sorrow)
5. Slavíkovský polečko malý (The Pledge of Love)
6. Holub na javoře (Forsaken)
7. Voda a pláč (Sad of Heart)
Four Choruses, Op. 29 (ca. 1876-78)
Repertoire Suitable for: Elementary/Middle School, SA, SATB High School
Our Favorite: Slavíkovský polečko malý (The Pledge of Love)
Historical Context:
• Dvorak composed his part-songs in Czech (part of the rise of Czech nationalism). Many of
these part-songs are online in German and/or English.
• Except for the Requiem and Stabat Mater, Dvorak’s choral music remains largely neglected
outside of Bohemia, although it was enormously popular in England and America.
Part-Songs:
• Wrote several sets of part-songs for men’s voices
• Below are two movements from In Nature’s Realm, op. 63
• Four Choruses, Op. 29
• Vocal chamber music
• Moravian Duets, Op. 32 (1880)
Performance practice: Try to perform in Czech if possible, but there are editions available
in English and German.
Texts and Translations may be found at the following webpage: http://www.recmusic.org/
lieder/get_settings.html?ComposerId=3933
Critical thinking questions:
Many of Dvorak’s pieces are available in Czech, English, and German. Is performing in one
language better than another? What are the pros and cons of performing in Czech, the original
language?
For Moravian Duets: What is the role of the piano? Is it an equal voice or is it a lesser voice?
How does it help tell the story of the text? Does the piano double the voices, or is it more
independent? Does its level of independence change how you view its role?
In Nature’s Realm/ Songs of Nature/ V Prírode, Op. 63:
SATB A Capella
All movements available on IMSLP: http://imslp.org/wiki/In_Nature's_Realm_(chorus),_Op.
63_(Dvořák,_Anton%C3%ADn)
Available on CPDL with English text: http://www3.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Anton%C3%ADn_Dvořák
Performance of 1st and 3rd movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eu27d9iXLw
Librettist: Vitezslav Hálek
Date: 1882
Instrumentation: SATB a capella (no piano reduction in IMSLP score)
Comments: Dvorak composed another piece entitled In Natures Realm, Op. 91. It is an orchestral
overture.
First Movement: Napadly Písne
Key: G major
Tempo: Andante
Voicing:
Soprano: E4-G5
Alto: B3- D5
Tenor: F#3- F#4
Bass: G2- D4
Comments: Simple and succinct, with some unexpected harmonic turns. Charming eighth note/eighth
rest figures create a surprising, unexpected aural texture. Bass divisi occurs in m. 4 and m. 12.
Text1:
Napadly písně v duši mou,
nezavolány, z nenadání,
jako když rosy napadá,
po stéblokadeřavé stráni.
Kol se to mihá perlami,
i cítím dech tak mladý, zdravý,
že nevím, zda jsou radost má,
1
http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Songs_of_Nature_(Anton%C3%ADn_Dvořák)#1._Napadly_p.C3.ADsn.C4.9B_.
28Melodies_fell_into_my_soul.29_2
či pláč mé duše usedavý.
Však rosu luna zrodila,
a není písním v duší stání:
tekou co slast a slza má,
a den se chystá ku svitání.
Third Movement: Žitné pole (Summer song)
Key: B flat major
Tempo: Andante con moto
Voicing:
Soprano: D4-F5
Alto: C4-C5
Tenor: D3-G4
Bass: F2- C4 (F2 only occurs once and can be omitted. Lowest note would then be G2)
Comments: Charming aural contrast between first six measures and suddenly rhythmic text (vesele vesele
vesele). Two verses of text but still a short piece. Divisi occurs in alto line (m. 6 only) and soprano and
bass lines in the final two measures.
Text Subject2: This text celebrates the golden landscapes, gentle breezes, blue skies, and laughing
creatures of summer.
Žitné pole, žitné pole,
jak to zraje vesele!
Každý klásek muzikantem,
klasu jak když nastele,
Hedbávným to šatem šustí
větřík v skočnou zadupe,
slunce objímá a líbá,
jen to v stéblu zalupe.
Za motýlkem včelka šeptem,
zda kdo v chrpě nevěsí,
a ten cvrček posměváček
s křepeličkou pod mezí.
Žitné pole, žitné pole,
jak to zraje vesele!
Každý klásek muzikantem
klasu jak když nastele.
Moravian Duets, Op. 32
2
http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Songs_of_Nature_(Anton%C3%ADn_Dvořák)#1._Napadly_p.C3.ADsn.C4.9B_.
28Melodies_fell_into_my_soul.29_2
SA, Piano
Available on IMSLP: http://imslp.org/wiki/Moravian_Duets,_Op.32_(Dvořák,_Anton%C3%ADn)
SATB arrangements on CPDL: http://www3.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/6_Klänge_aus_Mähren_(Anton
%C3%ADn_Dvořák)
Librettist: Traditional Czech folksongs
Comments: Dvorak wrote several Moravian duets, and each is an absolute gem! Excellent for women’s
and children’s chorus. You will need a brilliant pianist for some of these movements, but the
accompaniment is spectacular. The IMSLP score contains Czech, German, and English.
Here is a beautiful recording of of several Moravian duets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=u6PXrGFoVHg (The duets analyzed below begin at minute 11:00.)
1. A já ti uplynu (The Fugitive)
Key: D Major
Tempo: Allegretto
Voicing:
Soprano: D4-G5
Alto: C#4- E5
Comments: Delightful accompaniment supports the light-hearted, disjunct melodies opening the piece.
The score includes much rubato: teach students all the tempo terms marked in the score and decide
together how to treat each tempo change.
Text Subject: The narrator compares himself/herself to a fish, bird, kite, arrow and shooting star, warning
his/her lover to not lose him/her.
A já ti uplynu
preč po Dunajíčku!
A já chovám doma
takovú udičku,
co na ní ulovím
kdejakú rybičku.
A já se udělám
divokým holubem,
a já budu lítat
pod vysokým nebem.
A já chovám doma
takové havrany,
co mně vychytajú
kdejaké holuby!
A já se udělám
tú velikú vranú,
a já ti uletím
na uherskú stranu.
A já chovám doma
takovútu kušu,
co ona vystřelí
všechněm vranám dušu.
A já se udělám
hvězdičkú na nebi,
a já budu lidem
svítiti na zemi.
A sú u nás doma
takoví hvězdáři,
co vypočítajú hvězdičky na nebi.
A ty přec budeš má,
lebo mi tě, Pán Bů h dá!
2. Velet’, vtáčku (Fly Sweet Songster)
Key: G major
Tempo:Andante
Voicing:
Soprano: E4-D5
Alto: C#4- B4
Comments: The accompaniment paints a picture of the call of the swallow. Tempos are varied, beginning
slowly and picking up for a phrase or two. Form is two verses and a coda.
Text Subject: The narrator sends the swallow to the place where she met her beloved. She mourns and
knows she will likely never see him again.
Veleť, vtáčku, veleť
přes te hore, dole,
Veleť, vtáčku, veleť
přes ten zábrdovské les,
Ach, kýž je mně možná,
ktomu věc podobná smým synečkem,
smým synečkem mluvit dnes!
A mně néní možná,
ani věc podobná,
a mně néní možná,
daleko sme vod sebe!
Ty můžeš mět hinó,
já také hiného,
zapomenem na sebe.
3. Dyby byla kosa nabróšená (The Slighted Heart)
Key: F major
Tempo:Allegro
Voicing:
Soprano: G4-E flat 5
Alto: C4-C5
Comments: Lively, spirited accompaniment features a charming dotted-rhythm motive. A brief but lovely
poco meno messo section provides contrast.
Text Subject: The narrator compares the flower weeds that grow in his crops to a false, blue-eyed
maiden.
Dyby byla kosa nabróšená,
dyby byla votava,
co by vona drobnó jetelinku,
co by vona šupala!
A šupaj šupaj drobná jetelinko,
co je mně po tobě,
má zlatá panenko,
co je mně po tobě,
dys ty se mně provdala!
4. V dobrým sme se sešli (Parting Without Sorrow)
Key: E Flat major
Tempo: Allegretto scherzando
Voicing:
Soprano: E flat 4-G5
Alto: C4-F5
Comments: Stately, pleasant, marching tempo. The piano doubles some of the more difficult soprano
melodies (see mm. 18-20).
Text Subject: The narrator urges his/her beloved to kiss before they part and sings of how much they will
miss each other.
V dobrým sme se sešli,
v dobrým se rozejdem,
takeli, můj synečku, můj
na sebe zapomenem?
Já na tě zpomenu,
to nejednó v roce,
já na tě má panenko,
já na tě v každém kroce.
5. Slavíkovský polečko malý (The Pledge of Love)
Key: A minor
Tempo: Allegro
Voicing:
Soprano: D#4-F#5
Alto: D#4-C#5
Comments: Fast and furious accompaniment meets equally exciting vocal lines! This piece is in ABA’
form, the B section slowing down and changing to A major.
Text and Translation: A girl laments that she will never marry her beloved because neither of their
mothers consent to the marriage.
Slavíkovský polečko malý,
nebudeme, synečku, svoji,
nebudeme, néní to možná,
ani nám to,
můj synečku, tvá mama nedá.
Co pak je nám po našé mamě,
naša mama, nama neviádne.
Jenom ty mě, má panenko, jenom ty měchcej.
Jenom ty mač na debró noe ručenky podej.
6. Holub na javoře (Forsaken)
Key: B flat major
Tempo: Allegro Scherzando
Voicing:
Soprano: F#4-G5
Alto: C#4- D5
Comments: The contrasting sections of this piece provide several opportunities to teach tempo, meter,
and dynamic terminology.
Text Subject: A dove flies down to a field where a woman mourns over the lover who abandoned her.
Letěl holúbek na pole,
aby nazobal své vole.
Jak své volátko nazobal,
pod jaborečkem posedal.
Pod jaborečkem má milá
zelený šátek vyšívá.
Vyšívá na něm vineček,
že ju opustil syneček.
Vyšívá na něm z růže květ,
že ju opustil celý svět,
vyšívá na něm vineček,
že ju opustil syneček.
7. Voda a pláč (Sad of Heart)
Key: D major
Tempo: Moderato
Voicing:
Soprano: D4-E5
Alto: C#4-D5
Comments: You could teach this in less than a day! It is in strophic form with three verses. Altos sing by
themselves, then sopranos, then both sing together.
Text Subject: A man asks a maiden to give water to his horse. In their interaction, the man learns that the
maiden is sad that many men come and go but none stay to wed her.
Okolo hájička teče tam vodička,
napoj mně, panenko, mého konička.
Já ho nenapojím,
já se tuze bojím,
že jsem maličká.
Před našími okny roste tam olíva;
pověz mně, panenko, kdo k vám chodívá.
K nám žádný nechodí,
mne se každý bojí,
že jsem chudobná.
Před našími okny roste
z růže květ.
pověz mně, panenko,
proč tě mrzi svět?
Mne svět nic nemrzí,
mne srdenko bolí,
plakala bych hned.
Four Choruses, Op. 29 (ca. 1876-78)
A capella mixed choir. Beautiful, especially the first movement. Recordings exist on Youtube and
other websites. Copies of these works need to resurface!
Evening’s Blessing (Misto klekání)
Lullaby (Ukolébavka)
I Do Not Say It (Nepovím)
The Forsaken (Opušteny)
Librettists: Nos. 1 and 2: Adolf Heyduk, Nos. 3 and 4: Moravian folk songs
Comments: Recordings of all songs available here: http://www.antonin-dvorak.cz/en/four-choruses