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Dvořák · Antonín Dvořák

Dvořák Symphony No. 8 in G major

The symphony where trumpets call to a dance instead of a fight

Key
G major
Composed
1889
Premiere
1890 Prague
Duration
about 36 min
Movements
4 movements
Instrumentation
Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 (piccolo and English horn doubling) · Brass 4·2·3·1 · Timpani · Strings

The story behind this piece

He wrote it in about two and a half months, from August 26 to November 8, 1889, at his country house in Vysoká. It celebrates his election to the Bohemian Academy.

It is sometimes called the 'English' symphony, but it has nothing to do with England. The nickname arose because Dvořák fell out with his usual publisher, Simrock, over the price and had the score published by Novello in London.

Dvořák conducted the premiere himself in Prague on February 2, 1890. He also conducted this piece in 1891 when he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge.

The conductor Rafael Kubelík is said to have told his orchestra in rehearsal, 'In Bohemia, trumpets don't call to war; they always call to a dance.'

What to listen for

  • Movement 1: After a dark cello melody, the flute sings out brightly like birdsong.
  • Movement 3: A melancholy, waltz-like dance.
  • Opening of movement 4: A trumpet fanfare rings out, followed by variations. As Kubelík said, it's a fanfare that calls to a dance.

Listen · Score

Credits