I. Moderato
1. Antonín Dvořák was one of the greatest European composers of the 19th century, and many of his pieces endure to this day.
2. He was probably the most celebrated Czech composer in history, and his music was loved and respected around the world.
3. Also, he lived in Iowa. No kidding.
II. Tempo di valse
1. It was the summer of 1893. Antonín Dvořák was working as the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. Even back then, artists sometimes needed day-jobs.
2. Dvořák was convinced by a friend to come to Spillville, Iowa to spend his summer. The town was actually populated by Eastern European immigrants, so he felt quite at home.
3. His daily routine included a walk through the forest (many of his pieces are inspired by nature) and mass at St. Wenceslaus church, where he would play the organ. Wow.
4. Imagine: You’re in Spillville. Population 350. And your church organist is one of the most famous musicians in the world. Can we get an Amen?!
5. Pity their regular organist who must have returned to his position with ZERO fanfare. “Hey guys, it’s me again, Klaus. Back at it. Rockin’ your world. Hey where ya going?”
III. Scherzo: Vivace
1. By now we’ve reached the beautiful Scherzo movement of our Serenade for Strings. Scherzo is Italian for “joke,” and musicians LOVE to tell jokes about viola players.
2. How can you tell if a violinist is playing out of tune? Their bow is moving.
3. Why was the violist stuck out on the porch? Couldn’t find the key, and didn’t know when to come in.
IV. Larghetto
1. In addition to being Dvořák’s summer home, Iowa is also home to the nation’s most popular state fair.
2. Come for the agricultural exhibits and livestock competitions. But stay for the bizarre food selection.
3. Apple Explosion. Bacon Ice Cream. Bacon Balls BLT. Corn Dog Flavored Beer.
4. And what can you get on a stick? A pork chop, a salad, a smoothie, a deep-fried meatball, and a chocolate brownie waffle for two. Which comes with its own defibrillator.
5. No word on whether Dvořák attended in 1893. But rumor has it that his unfinished 10th Symphony was subtitled “Ode to a Corn Dog”
V. Finale: Allegro Vivace
1. Dvorak is part of an elite group of composers who never finished their 10th Symphony, leading to a widely held superstition that completing your 9th symphony is deadly.
2. Beethoven, Mahler, and Schubert are all members, as well as Perischetti, Schnittke, and Vaughn Williams.
3. It seems like a weird superstition, until you look into what else is considered bad luck. Black cats, keys on a table, an upside-down loaf of bread. All bad.
4. Meanwhile good luck omens include rain on your wedding day and being hit by bird poop. But those just feel like an attempt to cheer someone up.
5. But it’s lucky for us there’s no curse of the String Serenade! In my book, much luckier than bird poop. Please enjoy!
