Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74

Quick Facts

• Scored for two violins and viola in four movements
• Composed and premiered in 1887
• Dedicated to Josef Kruis and Jan Pelikán¹
  • Kruis was a chemistry student who lived in Dvořák’s building, and Pelikán was an old friend of Dvořák’s who was teaching Kruis violin at the time. Dvořák was inspired by hearing the pair play together and consequently wrote some trios in which he could join them on viola, the first of which was this Terzetto.²

About the Piece

• Listen for –
  • Dvořák’s quintessential folk style really comes through in the third movement, “Scherzo.”
    • The composer had just finished his second set of Slavonic Dances, Op. 72 around this time, so it’s not surprising that the musical style inspired his subsequent works.
• Given the work’s inspiration and dedicatees, the composer wrote it not necessarily for the concert hall but rather as a form of Hausmusik.
• Dvořák wrote the piece within one week. Unfortunately, it was too technically challenging for Josef Kruis. As an alternative for the young violinist, Dvořák followed up with Romantic Pieces, Op. 75.³

1. “Terzetto, Op.74 (Dvořák, Antonín),” IMSLP, accessed February 16, 2023, https://imslp.org/wiki/Terzetto%2C_Op.74_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k%2C_Anton%C3%ADn).
2. John Henken, “Romantic Pieces, Op. 75,” Hollywood Bowl, accessed February 16, 2023, https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/musicdb/pieces/3099/romantic-pieces-op-75.
3. Erik Entwistle, “Terzetto in C for Two Violins and Viola, Op. 74,” LA Philharmonic, accessed February 16, 2023, https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/4104/terzetto-in-c-for-two-violins-and-viola-op-74.