Rethinking Dvořák

Czech composer Antonin Dvorak has recently received special attention from scholars thanks to the changed political climate in his native land. Rethinking Dvorak provides a forum for studies of this composer by experts worldwide, including many from the Czech Republic who have never before published in English. This collection of 24 essays offers penetrating insights into Dvorak's personality, his place in history, and the sheer beauty of his music. How this music was received and appreciatied is a subject of special focus, offering explanations as to why, despite Dvorak's popularity, some of his greatest compositions have remained unknown. The book rejects the image of Dvorak as important mainly for Czech nationalism; while not neglecting the subject, it addresses also his ties to the broader family of Slavic nations, to the overall context of European music, and to the United States.