Piano Trio No.4, Op. 90, “Dumky”

Composer: DVOŘÁK, Antonín
  • Written in 1890, Dvořák’s final piano trio, Piano Trio No. 4, “Dumky” [DOOM-kee], consists of six movements:
    1. Lento maestoso
    2. Poco Adagio
    3. Andante
    4. Andante moderato
    5. Allegro
    6. Lento maestoso
  • The premiere performance took place in Prague in 1891, played by Ferdinand Lachner (violin), Hanuš Wihan (cello), and Dvořák (piano).
  • In 1893, Dvořák arranged a version of this work for piano 4 hands.1
  • The subtitle “Dumky” is the plural form of “dumka,” a type of Slavic folk song form “which is typical for its leisurely tempo and meditative, melancholic character.” This folk song style was applied to all six movements of the piece.2
  • Following the premiere, Dvořák would go on to perform the work over 40 more times, mainly as part of his “farewell” concert tour before he departed for the U.S.3

Sources

  1. “Piano Trio No.4, Op.90 (Dvořák, Antonín),” IMSLP, accessed October 6, 2025, https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Trio_No.4%2C_Op.90_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k%2C_Anton%C3%ADn).
  2. “Piano Trio No. 4 “Dumky”, Op. 90, B166,” Antonín Dvořák, accessed October 6, 2025, https://www.antonin-dvorak.cz/en/work/piano-trio-no-4-dumky-op-90-b166/.
  3. Ibid.

Cut IDs

40561 41383 27572