Dvorak: Czech Suite Op.39 III Sousedska (Minuetto) - wind dectet

Czech Suite Op.39  Mvt.III Sousedska (Minuetto)
 
After the success of the Serenades in E major and D minor, Dvorak had in mind to write another work of the same formal disposition, this time incorporating Czech folk dances. For this objective, however, the label “serenade” was not wholly appropriate, thus the initial idea gradually crystallised into the decision to write a suite which, for the premiere, was given the subtitle “Czech”. The work was first performed in Prague on 16 May 1879 at a concert organised by the Association of Czech Journalists, conducted by Adolf Cech. A year later Dvorak conducted his Czech Suite himself in Prague, on 29 March 1880 at a benefit concert to raise money for the construction of the National Theatre. The work was published in 1881 by Berlin-based firm Schlesinger.
The Czech Suite is written in five parts. The third movement is inspired by another folk dance, the “sousedska”, a slow dance in 3/4 time, and is typical for its colourful imitative treatment of the principal theme. It is arranged for wind dectet (double wind quintet)