Antonin Dvorak was born on September 8, 1841, in Vltava, Czechoslovakia, near Prague. He was the eldest of eight children born to trade folk, his father owning an inn and butcher shop. As a boy of eight, he played in pilgrimages, at various festivals, in his father's band, and sang in the church choir. It was when he went to Zlonice to study with Antonin Liehmann that he found his niche. He went to Prague in 1857 to study at the organ school.
Dvorak came to the United States in 1892 to accept the directorship of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. He spent three years in America, mostly in New York City and in the Czech colony in Spillville, Iowa. Many of his most famous works date from that period. He returned to Prague in 1895, assumed a professorship at the Prague Conservatory, and died in that city on May 1, 1904.

The Slavonic Dances (Czech: Slovanské tance) are a series of 16 orchestral pieces composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1878 and 1886 and published in two sets as Op. 46 and Op. 72 respectively. Originally written for piano four hands, the Slavonic Dances were inspired by Johannes Brahms's own Hungarian Dances and were orchestrated at the request of Dvořák's publisher soon after composition. The pieces, lively and full of national character, were well received at the time and today are considered among the composer's most memorable works, occasionally making appearances in popular culture. “Contrary to what the title might suggest, the dances are not so much inspired by Slavic folk music generally, but specifically by styles and forms from Bohemia. In these pieces, Dvořák never actually quotes folk melodies, but evokes their style and spirit by using traditional rhythmic patterns and structures in keeping with traditional folk dances.”

Slavonic Dances

D.W. Reeves composed this march for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the settlement of Providence, RI.

Memorial March - Instrumental Version

D.W. Reeves composed this march in 1886 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Providence, RI. It was performed by the American Band at the celebration. He included organ in the march!

Memorial March with Organ

The Carrie Waltz was composed in 1884 by J.M. Lander. It was dedicated to Carrie Astor.

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Carrie Waltz

in 1895, W.J. Palmer composed his March, Belle of Newport.

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March, Belle of Newport

Henry Mayer composed the Heel and Toe Polka in 1884. It is the 3rd Dance in his Newport Casino Dances set.

Heel And Toe Polka

Governor Knight's March was composed by Oliver Shaw in 1820.

Slavonic Dances

RIWE

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