Urtext edition for string quartet, 4 parts (2 Violins, Viola, Cello), edited by Peter Jost. Difficulty: difficult.
After a twelve-year interval, Dvořák once again turned his attention to
the string quartet in summer 1893. He had been musical director in New
York since autumn 1892 and spent the summer in Spillville (Iowa) where a
group of Czech immigrants had settled, thus making him feel at home.
The beautiful natural surroundings led him to write this unconventional
string quartet in the tradition of Beethoven's »Pastoral« – even down to
the imitation of birdcalls. Since the first performances, certain
rhythmic and melodic characteristics have been traced back to the
influences of the folk music of Native Americans and African Americans,
which led to the soon popular work being called the »American Quartet«.
For the first time since 1955, the quartet is once again being published
in an Urtext edition.
Language: german/english/french.
Publisher: G. Henle HN1232.