Meeting Harry Burleigh

Donald Macleod traces the important friendship Dvořák established with African American singer and composer Harry T Burleigh.

Antonín Dvořák became the first Czech composer to achieve global fame. His gift for transforming the folk styles of his native Bohemia into richly romantic classical music won him admirers far beyond his homeland. Consequently, Dvořák was approached to leave Europe and serve as director of the newly established National Conservatory of Music in America. His sponsors hoped he would help foster a new and distinctive American musical style, less reliant upon Germanic traditions. During his time in America, Dvořák composed many of his most celebrated works, including his Ninth Symphony and his Cello Concerto. This week, Donald Macleod focuses on Dvořák’s American years and uncovers what he achieved there.

1893 was Dvořák’s first full year working in America and his new surroundings were beginning to inspire him. A theme from his Sonatina for violin and piano was written down when Dvořák was visiting the Minnehaha Falls. At the Conservatory in New York, Dvořák encountered a young singer and future composer, Harry T Burleigh, who enjoyed singing spirituals in the halls. The older man was struck not only by Burleigh’s distinctive voice but also by the songs that he was singing. Could this be the sort of music he’d been looking for in his quest to establish an authentic American musical language? The two quickly became firm friends. When Dvořák later unveiled his Ninth symphony, he revealed he’d found inspiration in African American music, and subtitled his work, “From the New World”.

Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 “From the New World” (excerpt)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Sonatina for violin and piano, Op 100 (Larghetto)
Randall Goosby, violin
Zhu Wang, piano

Trad. arranged by Harry T. Burleigh
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Karen Parks, soprano
Wayne Sanders, piano

Trad. arranged by Harry T. Burleigh
Go Down Moses
Paul Robeson, bass baritone

Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 “From the New World” (Largo)
Sapporo Symphony Orchestra
Tadaaki Otaka, conductor

String Quintet, Op 97 “American” (excerpt)
Pavel Haas Quartet
Pavel Nikl, viola

Symphony No 9 in E minor, Op 95 “From the New World” (Allegro con fuoco)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock