Als die alte Mutter
(Songs my mother taught me)

Music: Anton Dvorák (1841-1904)
Words: Adolf Heyduk (1835-1923)

Als die alte Mutter is from Dvorák’s set of songs entitled the Zigeunermelodien (Cigánské Melodie). The set of songs is inspired by the Gypsie cultures found in Eastern Europe. Heyduk’s text was originally in Czech, but as the first performance of the songs were to take place in Germany, Heyduk prepared a German translation. It is this translation that Dvorák worked with as he composed the set. Als die alte Mutter is the fourth song of Zigeunermelodien, and is thought of as the centerpiece. A unique feature of the song is that the vocal line and piano accompaniment have different time signatures. The vocal line is in 2/4 while the piano is in 6/8. Due to this there is a constant 2 against 3 feel that yields a rich and flowing texture. Als die alte Mutter is indeed one of Dvorák’s most beloved songs, the soaring vocal line and meaningful text are touching and oh so sweet.

Anton Dvorák’s works for voice are comprised of 27 songs and 11 operas. He also wrote symphonies and chamber works. As a composer, Dvorák made use of musical elements found in the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvorák traveled Europe and the United Kingdom, was a professor at the Prague Conservatory, and also lived in the United States (1892-1895) where he was the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America  in New York City. In 1895 he returned to his native Bohemia.


Key of A Major
Range : Octave plus half step : C# up to D
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A Major
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Key of B Major
Range : Octave plus half step : D# up to E
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B Major
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Key of C Major
Range : Octave plus half step : E up to F
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C Major
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​Key of D Major
Range : Octave plus half step : F# up to G
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D Major
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​Key of E Major
Range : Octave plus half step : G# up to A
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E Major
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