Rethinking
Dvorak: Views from Five Countries by David R. Beveridge (Editor), Dvorak Sesquicentennial Conference
and Festival in America
Synopsis: Czech composer Antonin Dvorak has recently received special
attention from scholars thanks to the changed political climate in his
native land. Rethinking Dvorak provides a forum for studies of this composer
by experts worldwide, including many from the Czech Republic who have never
before published in English. This collection of 24 essays offers penetrating
insights into Dvorak's personality, his place in history, and the sheer
beauty of his music. How this music was received and appreciatied is a
subject of special focus, offering explanations as to why, despite Dvorak's
popularity, some of his greatest compositions have remained unknown. The
book rejects the image of Dvorak as important mainly for Czech nationalism;
while not neglecting the subject, it addresses also his ties to the broader
family of Slavic nations, to the overall context of European music, and
to the United States. This book is intended for Dvor'ak scholars; scholars/students
interested in late 19th-century European music, Czech culture, culture
of 19th-century central Europe.
(Hardcover - June 1997)
