Antonin Dvorak: 9th (New World) Symphony - Largo, score, parts & audio

This movement was already well-known to many people, but it became very familiar after its use in a number of television adverts in the UK, particular the Hovis bread advert. The Symphony is subtitled "From the New World" and was composed by the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak during an extended stay in America when he took up a post in New York. Dvorak became homesick and this particular movement is often interpreted as an expression of his longing to be home in his native land. It is therefore appropriate that the music was turned into the song called "Going Home". While in the US Dvorak heard much American music and it has been noted that a 4-note theme heard in his New World Symphony (and briefly in this 2nd movement) is the same 4 notes used to sing the word "Chariot" in the song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

Dvorak's New World Symphony was also one of the two recordings chosen by astronaut Neil Armstrong to take to the moon. Perhaps it was a personal favourite, or perhaps he looked upon the Moon as a "New World". His other choice was music using the electronic instrument called the Theremin which has been used to suggest otherworldly aliens in many older sci-fi films. The complete scores of Dvorak's 8th and 9th Symphonies (and many other works) are available from The Music Room.

You can download this movement in Midi or Mp3 formats using from the left-hand menu, and we also have an arrangement of this music for Piano Solo and another arrangement for Solo Instrument and Piano with various options for the solo instrument. In PDF print format, here is the Conductor's score to this movement, and below is the complete set of instrumental parts. The main theme of this movement is mostly played on the Cor Anglais (or English Horn), an instrument which is like an oboe only a little longer and deeper in tone. The video below provides a piano roll animation for the music, while below the video you can play the mp3 file and see the music before downloading.