Tag Archives: Moravia

this day in history: Czechoslovakia Gains Independence (1918)

Czechoslovakia Gains Independence (1918)

With the end of World War I came the dissolution of Austria-Hungary. Its Czech and Slovak-speaking territories—Bohemia, Moravia, Slovakia, and part of Silesia—formed Czechoslovakia. Benefiting from a liberal, democratic constitution and the inheritance most of the Austro-Hungarian Empire‘s industry, the new republic seemed to have a bright future. With its antagonistic and nationalistic ethnic elements, however, the new state was far from being a stable unit. What was the “Velvet Revolution“? More… Discuss

Slavonic Dance No. 2, Op. 46 Antonin Dvorak (and the Lesser Traveled Road…A perfect marriage!)

"Lesser Traveled Road'-oil painting (my Art Collection)

“Lesser Traveled Road’-oil painting (my Art Collection)

This song is performed by the “Berlin Festival Orchestra”, and Composed by Antonin Dvorak. He was a Czech composer of Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. His works include operas, symphonic, choral and chamber music. His best-known works include his New World Symphony, the Slavonic Dances, “American” String Quartet, and Cello Concerto in B minor.

Dvorak was commissioned by the publisher Simrock to compose a sequel to the Brahms “Hungarian Dances“, since that collection had put a considerable chunk of change into his pocket, and he relished the idea of repeating the pleasurable experience with the less expensive composer.