Dvořák - un homme de construction? Une construction structurelle en son Requiem

• Authors: Milan Slavický

Title variants

EN

Dvorak the constructivist?

CS

Dvořák - konstruktivista?

• Languages of publication: FR

Abstracts

EN

Antonín Dvořák used to be seen as an excellent writer of melodies, but a poor builder. But, the analysis of the Dies irae – Tuba mirum – Dies irae (DI 1 – TM – DI 2) movements of his Requiem (1890) reveals, in an impressive way, the author’s abilities of construction. Both choral movements (DI 1 and DI 2) were based by Dvořák on mere two three verse sections of the text. In DI 1, therefore, he repeated them twice, and gave them a different tectonic function each time – the first time in an ascending, gradating part of both movements, the second time at the peak and descent. The two movements, however, are not identical. The instrumental setting of the second is denser, there are more short counterparts and instrumental insertions (including the double quotation of the theme of the first movement in the bass instruments), and, especially: DI 2 at its peak brings several layers of confrontation of the text and motivic material of both movements. The composer also joined the whole set of three movements rhythmically. Every movement (DI x TM) uses its own basic rhythmical model, which also plays a key role at the juncture at the peak of DI 2: both rhythmical models sound simultaneously (together with other layers) with different speeds and instrumentation. Dvořák the constructivist? Certainly not in the primary sense of the word, but surely a composer who, at the peak of his composing career, was capable of impressive achievements in the field of construction and combination.

Keywords

EN

music

• Publisher: Institute of Ethnology, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Hudební věda (Musicology)
• Year: 2005
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 3-4
• Pages: 255-264
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Milan Slavický

• Umění, redakce, Ústav dějin umění AV ČR, v.v.i., Husova 4, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic