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.

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 Ondricek, Jan Pelikan, Petr Mares & Alois Neruda, at Umelecka Beseda, 6/1/1888. 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.[2]

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.[2] The pieces are as follows:[3]

B. 152 Title - ‘Cypresses’ (Cypřiše) - initially 'Echo of Songs' (Ohlas písní) (12): Tempo Notes
152/1 I Know that My Love to Thee (Já vím, že v sladké nadeji) Moderato 2nd version of B.11/6, B.160/4
152/2 Death Reigns in Many a Human Breast (V tak mnohém srdci mrtvo jest) Allegro ma non troppo 2nd version of B.11/1, B. 11/3, B.160/2
152/3 When Thy Sweet Glances Fall on Me (V té sladké moci ocí tvých) Andante con moto 2nd version of B.11/2, B.160/7
152/4 Love Will Never Lead Us to that Happy End (O naši lásce nekvete to vytouzené stestí) Poco adagio 3rd version of B.11/8, B.123/4, B.160/1
152/5 The Old Letter in My Book (Zde hledím na ten drahý list) Poco adagio 2nd version of B.11/12
152/6 O, Lovely Golden Rose (Ó zlatá ruže, spanilá) Andante moderato 2nd version of B.11/7
152/7 I Wander Often Past Yonder House (Kol domu se ted potácím) Andante con moto 3rd version of B.11/9, B.123/3, B.160/3
152/8 In The Deepest Forest Glade I Stand (Zde v lese u potoka) Lento 2nd version of B.11/14, B.160/6
152/9 Thou Only, Dear One (Ó duše drahá jedinká) Moderato 2nd version of B.11/4, B.160/8
152/10 There Stands an Ancient Rock (Tam stojí stará skála) Andante maestoso 2nd version of B.11/16
152/11 Nature Lies Peaceful in Slumber and Dreaming (Nad krajem vévodi lehký spánek) Allegro scherzando 2nd version of B.11/17, B.160/5
152/12 You Ask Why My Songs (Ty se ptás, proc moje zpevy) Allegro animato 2nd version of B.11/18

Notes

  1. 1 2 Herbert & Trufit 2004, pp. 54-55
  2. 1 2 Šourek, p. 120
  3. ↑ List of works by Dvořák at imslp.org

References


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