Dvorak (Pavlikova): Slavonic Dance No. 2, Op. 72 for soprano and alto saxophones, piano and cello

Code: JP4120
ISMN: 979-0-3019-0664-4

The Slavonic Dances are a series of 16 orchestral pieces composed by Antonin Dvorak in 1878 and 1886 and published in two sets as Opus 46 and Opus 72 respectively. Originally written for piano four hands, the Slavonic Dances were inspired by Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and were orchestrated at the request of Dvorak’s publisher soon after composition. The pieces, lively and overtly nationalistic, were well-received at the time and are today amongst the composer’s most memorable works.

Slavonic Dance No. 2 (op. 72) was inspired by the Polish folk dance, Mazurka. The music has been arranged by Katerina Pavlikova for soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, piano, and optional cello, in 2021 for the Covert Ensemble. Although the arrangement can be performed without the cello part since the instrument frequently doubles the piano bass line, the cello does have a separate line in some phrases and will provide a more interesting sound when included. The approximate timing, with all repeats, is 5.25 minutes.

A video performance of this music is available on YouTube.

Other arrangements by Katerina Pavlikova also available:
JP4119 Slavonic Dance No. 7.
JP4118 Slavonic Dance No. 8.

Click here for more information on Katerina Pavlikova