Die Geisterbraut - Svatební kosile (Vocal score)

Description

The preference of English audiences for large-scale vocal works led to Dvorák being commissioned, in November 1883, to write a cantata for solo voices, chorus and orchestra for the 1885 Birmingham Festival. As the basis for his composition Dvorák chose the ballad text “Svatební kosile” (literally ‘The Bridal Gowns’) from the collection “Kytice z povestí národních” (‘A Garland of Folk Tales’) by the Czech poet Karel Jaromír Erben (1811–1870).

Dvorák started work on the composition in early May and finished it on 27 November 1884. He stipulated that the premiere take place in Bohemia. On the whole, the critics took a highly positive view of The Spectre's Bride.

The musical text of this edition is taken from the Complete Edition of Antonín Dvorák´s Works, Volume II/2: The Spectre´s Bride op. 69.

• Musical text taken from the Complete Edition of Antonín Dvorák´s Works, Volume II/2: The Spectre´s Bride op. 69
• New preface by Daniela Philippi
• With sung texts in three languages (Cz/Eng/Ger)