Dvořák: The Noon Witch cover (Simrock, 1896)

This is one of those pieces that shows up on the radio frequently, but I have kept toward the back of my listening ears. As such, I’m sure there will be familiar phrases throughout. Throughout the SSS years, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for Dvořák’s work. Previously, my biggest exposure had been the experience that I had in learning his Requiem and performing it with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as a graduate student in the Westminster Symphonic Choir. Throughout those months, I most certainly had a long period of time to deeply familiarize myself with Dvořák’s flair for melody and harmonic styling, and certain progressions, for instance, appear in many symphonic works, leading me to think “Well, that can only be one guy!”