The late nineteenth century America was a place of energy, vigor, and youth; at least that was how it was seen through the eyes of one of the greatest Czech composers in history, Antonin Leopold Dvorak. Born September 8, 1841, he was the son of a butcher and innkeeper in a poor unsophisticated town, Nelahozeves. Surprisingly enough, from these humble beginnings Dvorak would go on to become one of the most renowned Bohemian composers and forever leave his mark in history as influencing not only his native Czech nationalistic school, but helping to pave the way for Americans to develop their own national music. .
Dvorak received his first musical education learning to play the violin in his village school. His parentsrecognized their son's musical talent from the first and did all they could to encourage it? (Boynick). In 1857 he was sent to the Prague Organ School where he graduated as a trained organist, second in his class. After working in Prague for several years giving lessons and attempting to compose, his career was greatly aided by the established composer Johannes Brahms who found Dvorak a publisher and got his career underway. Throughout his career Dvorak derived much guidance from other greats such as Brahms, Liszt, and especially Smetena who started the nationalist movement and whom Dvorak studied under. After a period of being ignored as serious musicians, these composers set forth a standard of nationalistic music that emphasized Slavic folk music & dances and established Czech music on the world scene.
In June 1891, after receiving world acclaim for many of his works, Dvorak was offered the post of Director of the National Conservatory of Music in America by Jeannette Thurber. At the time America seemed the promise land for the Czech composer as opposed to his Austrian ruled homeland. With a salary of $15,000 annually, it was a position Dvorak could hardly refuse. It was here, in anenterprising, eclectic milieu .
