Well kept secrets of the Czech people (1) - Dvo?ák

Travelling can be a nightmare, my dear LinkedIn connections. From navigating the airport security lines to trying to fit everything you need into a carry-on (which, let's be honest, is never enough), it's a series of challenges that are bound to test even the most seasoned traveller.

Something that I would never say a couple of years ago.?

I used to love leaving behind the familiar and embracing the unknown, which brings out a sense of wanderlust in us all. And for those who have had the opportunity to live and study in a foreign country, that love for travel is only amplified. But as time went on, travelling became exhausting, troublesome, and uncertain during pandemics, so I just stopped.??

But fear not, dear readers! My curiosity got back on track and I'm now in the process of shedding my creature-of-habit tendencies. So buckle up, grab a drink (or three), and let's dive into the wonderful world of Prague.

Five years ago I posted my first article on Portuguese well kept secrets and their cavaquinho. So, after spending an absurd amount of time contemplating my existence, I'm finally feeling inspired again to share my wild and wacky travel ideas from my travels.?

In a random order, I will use social media posts to record my travel insights and ideas from Prague. Today's tale is all about Dvo?ák.

Antonín Dvo?ák was a Czech composer who lived from 1841 to 1904. He's widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of classical music, and is particularly known for his works that incorporate traditional Czech folk melodies. Some of his most famous pieces include the New World Symphony, the American Quartet, and the opera Rusalka.

Ok, so why would you care about this?

This New World Symphony is a total mash-up of musical cultures! Dvo?ák went all out and threw in some African-American and Native American melodies, which was basically unheard of in classical music back then. And let's not forget about that English horn solo in the second movement – it's so famous that even your grandma knows it! And you want to know why everyone knows Dvo?ák's work, but never heard about him?

Well, it seems like John Williams is a big fan of Dvo?ák's New World Symphony! You can hear the symphony's melodies all over his movie scores, like when you're watching Luke Skywalker stare out into the twin suns in "Star Wars: A New Hope." And let's not forget the iconic alien communication sequence in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - that's all Dvo?ák's influence right there.

Williams himself has even admitted that the New World Symphony played a major role in shaping his own musical style. So, the next time you hear those sweeping, emotional orchestral themes in movies like "Jurassic Park," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," or "Harry Potter," you can thank Dvo?ák for the inspiration.

Dvo?ák's work is everywhere around the world, in some popular songs you might not think about. Take "Baby Shark Dance" for example. I know you've all heard that earworm of a song about the shark family. Whether it's your kid playing it on repeat or your cousin sharing yet another parody video on Facebook, there's no escaping it. But did you know that its opening melody bears a striking resemblance to some classic symphonic strings?

That's right, even the sharks can't resist the allure of classical music. Maybe we should start teaching baby sharks how to play the violin instead of just swimming in circles all day.?

While there is no concrete proof that Dvo?ák was directly influenced by fado music, it is worth noting that there is a striking resemblance between the opening melody of "Baby Shark" and "Can??o do Mar," a traditional fado song. As I recall, I previously discussed in a past article about the Portuguese concept of saudade.

Oh, but there is also a fun fact that's out of this world! It turns out that during the Apollo 11 mission, the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, brought along a cassette recording of Antonín Dvo?ák's New World Symphony. That's right, this epic piece of music was played on the lunar surface! ???? Talk about a symphony that's truly out of this world!