DVORAK: Bagatelles, for 2 violins, cello, and harmonium

Antonin Dvorák (1841-1904) was the first Bohemian composer to achieve worldwide recognition, noted for turning folk music material into large-scale compositions. Known for his symphonies, operas, and choral works, Dvorák composed the Bagatelles in May 1878, in Prague, for a circle of talented musical friends. Dvorák was "concerned with small scale and technically not too difficult music belonging to the category of so called "home music" intended for small amateur circles of music lovers. The number of works of this kind which Dvorák composed and their inevitable spontaneity show that far from ignoring and underestimating the importance of music-making in the home, he gladly brought the full force of his musicianship to bear in contributing to the expansion of the amateur chamber music player's repertory." (František Bartoš) The Bagatelles were scored for two violins, cello, and harmonium, apparently the only chamber music composed for this unique combination. Performed by violinists Maki Ishii Sowash and Michael Long, cellist Ingrid Bellman, and Michael Hendron, playing his 1915 Mason & Hamlin chapel-model reed organ. Recorded in concert 10 March 2024, in the Mission Dolores Basilica, San Francisco, California.

[@lotusbuds2000]

Breathtaking performance Michael

[@TomaszWalczakHarmonium]

Each of these recordings is wonderful, you can listen to it endlessly and I think they deserve to be included on the CD album.