Cypresses quartet (Dvořák)

Dvořák's String Quartet movements now bearing the title Cypresses (Czech: Cypřiše) are String Quartet versions of 12 of his 18 love songs, B11, of 1865 -also titled Cypresses. These arrangements are numbered B.152 and date from 1887.[1] The 12 pieces he selected for arrangement from B. 11 are Nos. 2–4, 6–9, 12, 14, and 16–18; the original songs are for solo voice and piano, and are settings of poems by Gustav Pfleger-Moravsky from the collection "Cypresses" (hence the title).[2]

Background

10 of these (1–9 & 11) were edited by Joseph Suk and published by Hudební Matice Umělecké Besedy in 1921; the complete set of 12 appear in Soubourne kritické vydání, the Complete Critical Edition, from 1957. They were originally titled Echos of Songs, later Evening Songs, under which name numbers 1–3 & 9 were given their 1st performance by Karel Ondříček, Jan Pelikan, Petr Mares & Alois Neruda, at Umělecká beseda, on 6 January 1888. Dvořák inscribed them "These little compositions were originally songs(18), four of which were published as Op2 by Stary... I wrote them in 1865 and now, after 22 years, I have arranged them for quartet under the title 'The Echo of Songs'".[1] They were given their present title by Joseph Suk.[3]

Structure

The original songs are clearly recognisable in these String Quartet arrangements, with melodic line, rhythm and harmony unchanged. For No.11, Dvořák changed the key, and half of them he extended by repetition, mostly with some interchange of allocation of lines to the different instruments.[3] The pieces are as follows:[4]

B. 152Title – ‘Cypresses’ (Cypřiše) – initially 'Echo of Songs' (Ohlas písní) (12):TempoNotes
152/1I Know that My Love to Thee (Já vím, že v sladké naději)Moderato2nd version of B.11/6, B.160/4
152/2Death Reigns in Many a Human Breast (V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest)Allegro ma non troppo2nd version of B.11/1, B. 11/3, B.160/2
152/3When Thy Sweet Glances Fall on Me (V té sladké moci očí tvých)Andante con moto2nd version of B.11/2, B.160/7
152/4Love Will Never Lead Us to that Happy End (Ó, naší lásce nekvete to vytoužené štěstí)Poco adagio3rd version of B.11/8, B.123/4, B.160/1
152/5The Old Letter in My Book (Zde hledím na tvůj drahý list)Andante2nd version of B.11/12
152/6O, Lovely Golden Rose (Ó, zlatá růže spanilá)Andante moderato2nd version of B.11/7
152/7I Wander Often Past Yonder House (Kol domu se teď potácím)Andante con moto3rd version of B.11/9, B.123/3, B.160/3
152/8In The Deepest Forest Glade I Stand (Zde v lese u potoka)Lento2nd version of B.11/14, B.160/6
152/9Thou Only, Dear One (Ó, duše drahá, jedinká)Moderato2nd version of B.11/4, B.160/8
152/10There Stands an Ancient Rock (Tam stojí stará skála)Andante maestoso2nd version of B.11/16
152/11Nature Lies Peaceful in Slumber and Dreaming (Nad krajem vévodí lehký spánek)Allegro scherzando2nd version of B.11/17, B.160/5
152/12You Ask Why My Songs (Ty se ptáš, proč moje zpěvy)Allegro animato2nd version of B.11/18

Notes
  1. Herbert & Trufit 2004, pp. 54–55
  2. "en/cypresses | antonin-dvorak.cz". www.antonin-dvorak.cz.
  3. Šourek, p. 120
  4. "List of works by Antonín Dvořák – IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download". imslp.org.

References


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