The Spectre's Bride Op.69 (Vocal Score)

Dvorak The Spectre's Bride Op.69 Vocal Score

Full score & performance material available for hire

Musical text taken from the Complete Edition of Antonín Dvořák´s Works, Volume II/2: The Spectre´s Bride op. 69

New preface by Daniela Philippi

English translation by John Clapham

With sung texts in three languages (Cz/Eng/Ger)

The preference of English audiences for large-scale vocal works led to Dvořák 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 Dvořák chose the ballad text Svatební košile (literally ‘The Bridal Gowns’) from the collection Kytice z pověstí národních (‘A Garland of Folk Tales’) by the Czech poet Karel Jaromír Erben (1811–1870).

Dvořák 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 Dvořák´s Works, Volume II/2: The Spectre´s Bride op.69.