Not so long ago, I helped my sick friend to teach her piano students for one afternoon. A boy played the simplified piano version of Dvorak’s New World Symphony 2nd movement. I asked him, if he ever heard the original orchestra version? He replied, he knew that it is originally for orchestra, but he hasn’t heard that yet. I said, Oh, it is a must, wonderful music! I will show him after the class.
After the class, there were still some minutes until the next student come, as promised, I wanted to show him the New World. On my mobile phone, at Youtube search, I typed: “Karajan New World”. A lot of video showed up, I looked for the version with orchestra playing one, not only showing CD cover. A few seconds has passed, finally I click on one video, couldn’t wait the video to play.
To my surprise, a TikTok ad with lively music played, I skipped this ad. Another Gym ad played. All kind of music but not Dvorak’s New World. Ok, finally the New World started but it was the 1st movement, not the 2nd movement that the boy played. Another student has arrived. I failed to show him the “New World”. I felt embarrassed and upset. The boy comforted me by saying: “I will look for it at home, I know how to search on Youtube. I hope to get in the school that focus on music, so that I have chance to join orchestra.” Deep down in my heart, I wish him all the best.
There is one more life story that related to Dvorak worth mentioning. In my previous blog on 19th April in year 2020, I’ve written about my encounter with Dvorak Op. 99. I wrote:
I just discovered something beautiful, and knowing that something I like do exist! I just want to spend some time to be happy about their existence and to appreciate them. Just like Ronja first time discovered water lilies:
“Ronja did not know that they were water lilies, but she looked at them for a long time and laughed softly because they existed.”
Astrid Lindgren – Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter
This is particularly true when I listened to Dvorak Op. 99 No. 4 – The Lord is my shepherd.
From “Because They Exist” – The Journey Writer
You can call it coincidence or lucky or whatever you want to define it, last year December in Köln, in one concert, I heard Dvorak Op. 99 No. 4 live for the first time from my favourite artist. A wish been granted is a great contentment. It felt like the world is complete, I do not have another desire to fulfil anymore.
Back to the question/ the title: Where is the new world? Here it is! With Karajan and The Vienna Philharmonic.
Link to the Blogpost about Dvorak in year 2020:
https://thejourney-writing.com/2020/04/because-they-exist.html
Want to know how important the song is in “Ronja the Robbers Daughter”?
https://thejourney-writing.com/2020/03/the-4-songs-in-ronja-the-robbers-daughter.html
