New World Largo melody pauses ...
Posted by: fred simon on 11 October 2007
My little daughter was assigned a new piece at her piano lesson: the Largo from Dvorak's New World Synphony. So we listened to the recording by Ivan Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra (magnificent performance, by the way).
At the end of the Largo movement there are a few unexpected long pauses in the final statement of the melody ... a very powerful effect. I started wondering how these pauses came about, especially the first one in mid-bar ... I wonder what Dvorak was thinking. Obviously the simple answer is "because it works." But I wonder if there's any other significance to it. Anyone?
All best,
Fred