Forums > Smetana Or Dvorak

harryjamespotter

Mar 19 2006, 08:12 PM

Right, I'm starting a new piece and my teacher has asked me to chose between

- Smetana: From the homeland

or

- Dvorak: 4 romantic pieces

aaaargh, i love them both. But hes right in a way cos I definitely don't have enough to learn both when i should really be starting to revise (fun fun ). Which should i go for??!?!

dacapo

Mar 19 2006, 08:24 PM

QUOTE(harryjamespotter @ Mar 19 2006, 08:12 PM)

Right, I'm starting a new piece and my teacher has asked me to chose between

- Smetana: From the homeland

or

- Dvorak: 4 romantic pieces

aaaargh, i love them both. But hes right in a way cos I definitely don't have enough to learn both when i should really be starting to revise (fun fun ). Which should i go for??!?!

Why not just toss a coin? You can always learn the other one later.

bohemian

Mar 19 2006, 09:12 PM

Both are icky

I would choose the Dvorak, I reckon Aus Der Heimat is over-rated and over-played.

benjaminja

Mar 20 2006, 04:43 PM

QUOTE(bohemian @ Mar 19 2006, 09:12 PM)

Both are icky

I would choose the Dvorak, I reckon Aus Der Heimat is over-rated and over-played.

I would say do the Homeland ones. I thought the 4 Rom Pieces were done more often?

Seriously, though, do both! I did the Smetana pieces for my dip exam last year and became rather fond of them. I was always rather scared by the 3rd of the 4 Dvorak pieces where it suddenly goes into parallel octaves...

bohemian

Mar 20 2006, 05:15 PM

QUOTE(benjaminja @ Mar 20 2006, 04:43 PM)

I thought the 4 Rom Pieces were done more often?

A lot of people do No 1 od Aus Der Heimat for grade 7, and then learn some of the others, or else play it for Dip.

_rai_

Sep 23 2006, 01:41 PM

I chose Smetana for my grade 7 violin exam.

Everyone who listened to it enjoyed it thoroughly.

mysteryd

Oct 19 2006, 10:02 PM

Dvorak for me...

bobifier

Oct 20 2006, 05:41 PM

Does Smetana have anything to do with the Moldau?

mysonet

Oct 20 2006, 06:20 PM

QUOTE(bobifier @ Oct 20 2006, 07:41 PM)

Does Smetana have anything to do with the Moldau?

No, Bedrich Smetana was a Czech composer (1824-1884) just like Dvorak.
Both Dvorak and Smetana are overplayed (especially the Romantic Pieces) in Czech republic, so I didn't choose these pieces for my diploma exam

kenm

Oct 24 2006, 10:43 PM

QUOTE(bobifier @ Oct 20 2006, 06:41 PM)

Does Smetana have anything to do with the Moldau?

Yes, "Moldau" is the German name of a river, and also of popular orchestral tone poem from the series "Ma Vlast" ("My Life") that Smetana wrote in 1874. Its Czech name is "Vltava".

Personally, I usually prefer Dvorak's music to Smetana's. Among Czech composers I rate Janacek more exciting than both, and Dvorak's son-in-law, Josef Suk, as his equal in quality.

fsharpminor

Oct 27 2006, 08:35 AM

QUOTE(kenm @ Oct 24 2006, 11:43 PM)

QUOTE(bobifier @ Oct 20 2006, 06:41 PM)

Does Smetana have anything to do with the Moldau?

Yes, "Moldau" is the German name of a river, and also of popular orchestral tone poem from the series "Ma Vlast" ("My Life") that Smetana wrote in 1874. Its Czech name is "Vltava".

Personally, I usually prefer Dvorak's music to Smetana's. Among Czech composers I rate Janacek more exciting than both, and Dvorak's son-in-law, Josef Suk, as his equal in quality.

Im not a violinist, but just love accompanying my daughter in the Dvorak Romantic Pieces. Also we enjoy the Romance in F Minor, though its not so easy.

pizza1512

Oct 28 2006, 08:35 PM

Dvorak: 4 romantic pieces all the way!