A book written for younger readers, focusing on Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's three-year (1892-1895) sojourn in America as director of the National Conservatory in New York City. The author does an excellent job at capturing the feel of the period -- and how the country-boy-at-heart Dvorak reacted to the noises and bustle of the Big Apple. Central to the story is Dvorak's contention that an American symphonic music had to grow out of Negro spirituals and native American music, a point contended by the German-trained composers in the New England School centered in effete Boston. -- An enjoyable enough book, but, since I am not in the intended demographic (and already know something of Dvorak's life and work), difficult to fully appreciate and evaluate. ( )

An interesting story about the inspiration for Dvorak's American music- the New World Symphony and the American Quintet. The author traces the details of music in America vis-a-vis the "standard" music of the age- Germanic Neo-Classical centered in staid Vienna. The author limits his discussion to evidence relevant to his point, which is well-focused and effectively argued, but he misses the opportunity for adding more depth by neglecting any source information or bibliography. Within the text, he indicates source material directly quoted differently from his own opinion, but he offers no citations, documentary information, or ideas for further reading, all of which is too bad, because the book itself is otherwise well-written and enjoyable to peruse. The source material offers a lesson in late 19th century American language that suggests conversations on racial terminology and the recognition of the value of ethnic diversity. A focus on Dr. Dvorak's assistant, an African-American singer whose traditional songs inspired many parts of the symphony, bookends the narrative, grounding it in an inspiring American story. Between the story of Harry Burleigh is the chronological journey of the Dvorak family in America in 1893, colored by chapters on American musical and popular culture to set the scene. While the book includes an index in the back, as well as stories of the author's inspiration and journey writing the text, the lack of a bibliography proves lamentable. ( )