Humoresques, Op. 101

Quick Facts

• Written in 1894
• A collection of eight pieces for piano:
  1. Vivace (E♭ minor)
  2. Poco Andante (B Major)
  3. Poco Andante e molto cantabile (A♭ Major)
  4. Poco Andante (F Major)
  5. Vivace (A minor)
  6. Poco Allegretto (B Major)
  7. Poco Lento e grazioso (G♭ Major)
  8. Poco Andante—Vivace–Meno mosso, quasi Tempo I (B♭ minor)¹

About the Piece

• Dvořák wrote his eight Humoresques in the summer of 1894 while spending a holiday in his native Bohemia (he was still serving as Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York then). The happiness and cheer that the composer felt at the time clearly shine through these pieces.
• When writing Humoresques, the composer largely drew on older melodies from his “American sketchbooks.” Therefore, it’s safe to say that these later piano works reflect his time spent in America.
  • The exact reason why Dvořák chose to call his piano pieces “Humoresques” is unfortunately unknown.
• Humoresque No. 7 is by far the most popular of the set and is among the composer’s most recognizable melodies. Since its publication, No. 7 has been transcribed into many versions for solo instruments and small ensembles.²

1. “8 Humoresques, Op.101 (Dvořák, Antonín),” IMSLP, accessed March 15, 2023, https://imslp.org/wiki/8_Humoresques%2C_Op.101_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k%2C_Anton%C3%ADn).
2. Christian Schaper and Ullrich Scheideler, “Preface: Humoresques op. 101,” G. Henle Verlag (2017), accessed March 15, 2023, https://www.henle.de/en/detail/?Title=1044.