Dvořák - New World Symphony

Here's a 1953 recording of the New World Symphony conducted by Toscanini leading the inauspicious sounding NBC Symphony Orchestra. Of course, the record I bought at a Goodwill was the usual $1 - the record looks darn near mint, but I didn't notice at the store that it must have been subjected to some heat and less than ideal storage - there's a really bizarre warp on this thing. However, the trusty SONY linear-tracking PS - FL7 turntable is a champ at navigating the difficult terrain here - the stylus moves like a 4X4 through the Grand Canyon, but wow - to no major detriment to the music - go figure! Even with a little noise due to the compromised vinyl I have to say - GREAT PERFORMANCE! I love how a 1953 mono recording can deliver the goods - and Toscanini is pretty inspired here. This must have been considered the benchmark recording prior to the stereo era. As much as I like the classic Fritz Reiner / Chicago Symphony recording on RCA (in Living Stereo) - the Toscanini has an edge to it that's pretty remarkable.

My experience with Dvořák starts with Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The icon of multi-tasking saxophone playing did a cool thing on one of his albums where he played the melody to "Sentimental Journey" and the "Going Home" theme of Dvořák's New World Symphony at the same time! Classic Rahsaan right there. Anyway - on the record he gets into this rap about how black people say Dvořák was a black man, but the white people say he was a white man. Someone in the audience asks Rahsaan "What do YOU say?" His reply; "I don't GIVE a damn!" Heh heh.

I found that there has yet to be a Dvořák symphony I don't like. Rather than try to compete with the whole Beethoven / Wagner / Brahms / Bruckner / Mahler deal - Dvořák just lays down some beautiful themes and melodies in his symphonies and you can dig it. Now, being able to tell just which symphonies I mean is a little complicated since there was a general agreement to re-number his works somewhere along the line (who decides these things anyway?). So - the New World Symphony was once considered Symphony #5 - now it's like, #9 or something. Someday I'll have it straight.

I also have to give Dvořák a lot of credit for finally getting my ears to open up to some more string quartet music. I have a box set of his SQ's and darn if I don't like them all. I'm still working on getting up the courage to delve into those Bartok string quartets, but that's for another entry. My point is - if you're wondering if you could get into any kind of orchestral music, give Dvořák a try. I would have to say he must be one of the most accessible composers in the so-called "classical" realm. Personally, I just think he really understood the value that Charles Mingus later identified with music - if it stays with you long after the performance is over - mission accomplished (I am paraphrasing Mr. Mingus, of course but you get the drift).

Final assessment : Dvořák rocks. Dig it!