Dvořák’s Piano Works: A Curated Selection of Masterpieces Filled with Love for His Homeland, Czechia

Antonín Dvořák, a composer of the Czech national school born in 1841, left behind many works brimming with patriotism.

Many of you may know him as the composer of Symphony No.

9 “From the New World,” the original piece for the song “The Sun Sets Over the Distant Mountains.”

In this article, we’re highlighting Dvořák’s works familiar to Japanese listeners that were written either for solo piano or for ensembles including the piano.

We’ll introduce them along with the background of their composition.

Playlist

Dvořák’s Piano Works: A Curated Selection of Masterpieces Filled with Love for His Homeland, Czechia
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	8 Humoresques, Op. 101 No. 7Antonín Dvořák		Humoresque No. 7 by Dvořák
2	Romantic Pieces, Op. 75: No. 1 “Cavatina”Antonín Dvořák		A short piece by Dvořák, with the gentle tones of violin and piano
3	Slavonic Dances, Series I, Op. 46 No. 1Antonín Dvořák		The Appeal of Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance No. 1
4	Poetic Tone Pictures, Op. 85: No. 1 “Night Road”Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s poetic tone pictures are a collection of emotionally rich piano pieces
5	Czech Suite in D major, Op. 39: No. 2, “Polka”Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s Czech Suite Polka
6	Legend Op. 59 No. 1 in D minorAntonín Dvořák		A legend reflecting Dvořák’s love for his homeland
7	Suite in A major, Op. 98Antonín Dvořák		The Piano Version and Orchestral Version of Dvořák’s Suite, Op. 98
8	Eight Waltzes, Op. 54 No. 1Antonín Dvořák		A romantic work by Dvořák derived from folk music
9	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s Masterpiece Piano Quintet
10	Piano Concerto, Op. 33Antonín Dvořák		The characteristics and appeal of Dvořák’s Piano Concerto
11	Slavonic Dances, Series II, Op. 72 No. 2Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances: where silence and passion intersect
12	Piano Trio No. 4 “Dumky” in E minor, Op. 90Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s Piano Trio “Dumky”
13	Dumka, Op. 35Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s Dumka is an emotionally rich masterpiece
14	Dumka and Furiant, Op. 12Antonín Dvořák		A masterpiece in which Dvořák incorporated Slavic folk music into his work
15	Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 87Antonín Dvořák		Dvořák’s mature chamber works
16	Slavonic Dances, Series II No. 1, Op. 72 No. 1Antonín Dvořák		Elegantly expressing Czech folk dance through a piano duet
17	HumoresqueAntonín Dvořák		A fusion of Czech and American music, an elegant miniature beloved in Japan