Serenade in D Minor for Winds by Antonín Dvořák | Concert Library

Serenade in D Minor for Winds

Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds has remained popular since its 1878 premiere, which was conducted by the composer himself in Prague. Dvořák dedicated the piece to Louis Ehlert, a music critic whose praise for Dvořák’s earlier works had made the composer famous throughout Germany. Like many of Dvořák’s compositions, the Serenade blends sonic elements of classical music with Eastern European folk traditions.

The Serenade opens with a movement that hearkens back to the soundscapes of long-ago court performances from the Rococo period; the sounds of the aristocracy are merged with a song of the common people. This opening theme is particularly important, because it will return near the end of the final movement, thereby making the Serenade a cyclical work. The second movement begins with a wistful, charming minuet. This is followed by a lively trio with syncopated Czech dance rhythms.

Long, sensuous melodies in the slower third movement convey a sense of melancholic nostalgia. The expressive oboe and clarinet are accompanied by subtle syncopation in the horn section and an active bass line. The Serenade ends with a driving, witty Finale reminiscent of the village band. High-level performance on wind instruments was a centuries-long Bohemian tradition, and Dvořák’s Serenade pays tribute to that rich heritage.

The year after the Serenade’s premiere, Johannes Brahms sent a letter to Joseph Joachim praising the work. Brahms wrote: “A more lovely, refreshing impression of real, rich and charming creative talent you can’t easily have…I think it must be a pleasure for the wind players!”

October 21–23, 2022

Performance of Dvořák's Wind Serenade in October 2022

Watch Performance
25:02

Director: Charlie McCarron
Associate Director: Kailyn Grider
Editor: Janet Shapiro
Cameras: Rebecca Beam
Video Technical Director: JoAnn Babic
Score Reader: Jeffrey Stirling
Audio: Cameron Wiley, YourClassical MPR
Executive Producer of Digital Media: Matt Thueson
Assistant Producer for Digital Projects: Erica Beebe
Assistant Producer for Digital Audiences: Kierra Lopac

November 18–27, 2016

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