Slavonic Dance No. 4 (Op. 46): Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Antonín Dvorák / arr. Richard Meyer
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PK-0000144
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Description
This new arrangement from Richard Meyer is fairly challenging but very gratifying. All the textures and concepts of Dvorák's original have been carefully maintained, while making the work more accessible to school groups. Scored for strings, woodwinds, brass in pairs, and percussion, this transcription is full of charm and style, and will make an excellent addition to your full orchestra library. (Grade 3)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Slavonic Dance No. 4 (Op. 46): Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling Full Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
96
SKU:
00-PK-0000144
More about this title
About the Composer: Antonin Dvorák
Antonin Dvorák (1841, 1904) stands as one of the great nationalist composers, bringing the musical language of his Czech homeland to the concert hall with unmistakable authenticity. His command of orchestration and gift for memorable melody made him a bridge between the Romantic tradition and modern composition, and his works remain central to orchestra repertoire across all levels.
For school programs, Dvorák offers an invaluable resource: pieces that sound substantial and professional while remaining genuinely teachable. His Slavonic Dances, in particular, combine rhythmic vitality with clear harmonic structure, making them ideal vehicles for developing musicianship in young ensembles.
Why we love this
Richard Meyer's transcription captures what makes this work so engaging, the rhythmic drive, the folk-inflected melodies, the colorful orchestration, without requiring the virtuosity of the original. Grade 3 orchestras can play this and actually sound like they're making music, not struggling through technical hurdles. The arrangement respects Dvorák's voice while being genuinely playable.
What to expect
A spirited, folk-inflected dance that moves with buoyant energy and Bohemian warmth. The orchestration shimmers with color; moment to moment you hear the exchange of ideas between strings and woodwinds, with brass providing punctuation and support that feels inevitable rather than imposed.
Who it's for
Full orchestras at the intermediate level, the kind of ensemble that has consistent attendance, decent sectional balance, and is ready for music that demands musicality alongside technical competence. This is not a reading piece; it rewards preparation and delivers concert-worthy results.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the characteristic syncopated rhythms in the main theme across your string and woodwind sections; these need clarity without sounding mechanical.
- Pay special attention to the articulation of the brass pairs—their punctuating figures should snap precisely without overwhelming the lighter textures around them.
- Allow the natural rubato that lives in the phrase shapes rather than locking into a metronomic pulse; this dance should breathe and sway.
- Use the percussion strategically to enhance the folk-dance quality; timpani rolls and triangle work best when they serve the melodic line, not compete with it.
How to use it
Program this as a contrasting centerpiece within a larger orchestra concert, perhaps bracketed by a more introspective opening work and a rousing finale. It fits naturally alongside other Romantic-era arrangements or as a bridge between classical and contemporary pieces, and its five-minute arc moves fast enough to hold audience attention without fatigue.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing syncopated rhythmic patterns across multiple instrumental families
- Balancing sustained melodic lines with accompanying figures in orchestral textures
- Coordinating articulation and dynamics across mixed instrumental groupings (strings, woodwinds, brass)
- Responding to rubato and phrase-shape direction from the conductor in Romantic-era style
- Maintaining ensemble integrity in music that features folk-influenced rhythmic character