Silent Woods (Dvořák)

Silent Woods (Czech: Klid) is the translated title of the composition by Antonín Dvořák initially published under the German title Waldesruhe. It is the fifth part of the cycle for piano four-hands, Ze Šumavy (From the Bohemian Forest) Op.68 / B.133, composed in 1883. The work is also transcribed by the composer for cello and piano (B.173) and for cello and orchestra (B. 182).

The original piano cycle Op. 68 was composed in 1883 on demand of Fritz Simrock. As it was popular in the late nineteenth century to make arrangements of popular works for other instruments, on 28 December 1891 Dvořák made an arrangement for cello and piano of the fifth piece, for a farewell concert tour he gave with violinist Ferdinand Lachner and cellist Hanuš Wihan in the first months of 1892 before embarking for the New World. The arrangement became so popular that Dvořák made a new arrangement for cello and orchestra on 28 October 1893. The arrangements were first published in the fall of 1894 by Fritz Simrock, who changed the German title given by Dvořák – Die Ruhe (The Silence), a literal translation from the Czech Klid – to Waldesruhe (Silent Woods).

Like the other pieces in Op.68, Silent Woods is a lyrical character piece, bearing the tempo marking Lento e molto cantabile for the main, dreamy theme in D♭ major, which is reprised (Lento. Tempo I) after a light intermezzo (Un pochettino più mosso) in C♯ minor.

See also

• List of compositions by Antonín Dvořák

References

• Pospíšil, Milan. Preface to: Antonín Dvořák - Waldesruhe für Klavier und Violoncello. G. Henle Verlag, München, 1999
• Tranchefort, François-Rene (1987). Guide de la musique de piano et de clavecin. Fayard.

Antonín Dvořák
Operas	Alfred Armida Dimitrij King and Charcoal Burner Rusalka The Cunning Peasant The Devil and Kate The Jacobin The Stubborn Lovers Vanda
Symphonies	No. 1 in C minor (The Bells of Zlonice) No. 2 in B♭ major No. 3 in E♭ major No. 4 in D minor No. 5 in F major No. 6 in D major No. 7 in D minor No. 8 in G major No. 9 in E minor (From the New World)
Concertos	Cello Concerto in B minor Cello Concerto in A major Piano Concerto in G minor Violin Concerto in A minor Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra
Orchestra works	A Hero's Song Carnival Overture Czech Suite in D major Hussite Overture In Nature's Realm Legends My Home Nocturne in B Othello Overture Serenade for Strings in E major Slavonic Dances Suite in A major (American) Symphonic Variations The Golden Spinning Wheel The Noon Witch The Water Goblin The Wild Dove Tragic Overture
Vocal music	Moravian Duets Psalm 149 Requiem Saint Ludmilla Stabat Mater
Chamber music	String quartets No. 1 in A major No. 2 in B♭ major No. 3 in D major No. 4 in E minor No. 5 in F minor No. 6 in A minor, Op. 12, B. 40 Andante appassionato in F major B.40a No. 7 in A minor, Op. 16, B. 45 No. 8 in E major No. 9 in D minor, Op. 34, B. 75 No. 10 in E♭ major (Slavonic) String Quartet movement in F major B. 120 No. 11 in C major No. 12 in F major (American) No. 13 in G major No. 14 in A♭ major Cypresses B. 152 Other Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor (Dumky) Romantic Pieces Serenade in D minor for Wind Instruments Silent Woods Sonatina in G major String Quintet No. 2 in G major String Quintet No. 3 in E♭ major (American) String Sextet in A major Terzetto in C
Piano music	Humoresques Legends Slavonic Dances Suite in A major (American)
Named for Dvořák	Dvorak (crater) Antonín Dvořák Theatre
Related articles	List of compositions Antonín Dvořák Museum Dvorak - In Love?
Portal:Classical music