Legends (Dvořák)

Legends, Op.59, B.122, (Czech: "Legendy") is a cycle of ten small-scale pieces by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. The work was composed originally for the piano duet, but later was arranged also for a reduced orchestra. [Album notes (SU 3533-2 031), p. 4-5]

Background

On 15 October, 1880, the day before finishing the score of his sixth symphony, Dvořák wrote to his publisher Fritz Simrock about his plans for the near future saying he hoped to finish a piano duet cycle "Legends" in the next month.Score, p. V] He did not, however, begin to sketch the work until 30 January, 1881. The definitive shape of the "piano version" was created from 12 February to 23 March, 1881, partly in Prague and partly in Vysoká u Příbrami. Dvořák dedicated the composition to the critic Eduard Hanslick, who praised the cycle with a great enthusiasm.Score, p. V] The piano duet version was printed by the German publishing house Simrock in summer, 1881. In that same year Dvořák arranged the cycle for the orchestra. The orchestration differs in every individual piece. [Album notes (SU 3533-2 031), p. 5] The orchestral version is performed less frequently, the selection is given more often than the whole cycle. The work was premièred in 1882, at the concert of the Prague Conservatory (part 1, 3, 4), under the baton of Antonín Benewitz. Three more of the "Legends" (Nos. 2, 5, 6) were premièred at a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic on 26 November, 1882, conducted by Wilhelm Jahn.

Structure

The cycle consists of ten parts::# Allegretto non troppo, quasi andantino (in d minor):# Molto moderato (in G major):# Allegro giusto (in g minor):# Molto maestoso (in C major):# Allegro giusto (in Amusic|flat major):# Allegro con moto (in cmusic|sharp minor):# Allegretto grazioso (in A major):# Un poco allegretto (in F major):# Andante con moto (in D major):# Andante (in bmusic|flat minor)

The approximate duration is 40 minutes.

Notes

References

*cite book |title=Legendy, Op. 59, Piano 4 ms (Score)|last=Dvořák |first=Antonín |authorlink=Antonín Dvořák |coauthors=Šourek, Otakar (foreword) |year=1956 |publisher=Bärenreiter Editio Supraphon |location=Prague |isbn= |pages= |url= [http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/0202087/details.html]
*cite album-notes |title=Symphonic Variations, Scherzo capriccioso, Legends (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras) |albumlink= |bandname=Antonín Dvořák |year=2001 |notestitle= |url= |first=Jaroslav |last=Holeček |authorlink= |coauthors=transl. Sarah Gráfová |pages=p. 4-5 |format= CD|publisher=Supraphon |publisherid=SU 3533-2 031 |location=Prague |mbid= [http://www.supraphon.cz/cs/katalog/databaze-titulu/detail-titulu/?idtitulu=2000060]