Dvořák: Sonatina for violin and piano in G Major, Op. 100 (arr. for viola)Dvořák: Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 87It’s odd, but true, that one of the best-known classical symphonies about America was actually written by a Czech composer. Antonin Dvořák’s “New World” symphony was written during a trip the composer took to the states in the 1890’s, and is just one of the pieces that established him as the most distinguished and well-known of Czech composers. During his time in America, Dvořák wrote other pieces as well, including the sonatina that comes first on today’s all-Dvořák program. Then, we’ll return to a Dvořák piece that’s a bit more Old World in style: his piano quartet in E-Flat Major. Written before his trip to America, this piece reflects Dvořák’s connection to European composers, particularly Brahms, who was a strong advocate for Dvorak in building his early career. The folksong-like melodies here are reminiscent not of America, but of Dvořák’s native Eastern Europe.