Thursday 15 March 2018
Tune of the Day: Songs My Mother Taught Me
by Antonín Dvořák, arranged for flute and piano
Czech Romantic composer Antonín Dvořák wrote this piece in 1880, as the fourth of seven songs that constitute his cycle Gypsy Songs (Czech: Cigánské melodie), B. 104, Op. 55. It is, without a doubt, the most popular song in the entire cycle, and one of Dvořák's most beloved songs.
The piece features an unusual rhythmical structure: the melody line is written in 2/4 time, while the piano accompaniment is in 6/8 time. Because of this, there is a constant 2-against-3 feel that yields a rich and flowing texture.