Serenade in d Minor Op44

Serenade in d minor
(Opus 44 for Winds)
Composed by Antonin Dvorak
For Woodwind Quintet
Arranged by Bill Holcombe Jr.
Published by Musicians Publications
Includes score and parts

Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, French Horn, and Bassoon (or Bass Clarinet)

It was in 1878 that Dvorak first incorporated the rhythms of Czech folk dances into his music.  The opening march pays tongue-in-cheek homage to the serenades of Mozart and central European wind-band music, “Harmoniemusik.”  The second movement is actually comprised of two Czech folk dances, the sousedska (neighbor's dance) and a furiant as the “trio” section.  In the third movement, Dvorak unfolds a typically lovely melody, while the finale rolls along with the high-spirited folk dances and a reminiscence of the opening march theme to end the work jubilantly in the key of D major.