Dvořák: Rondo in G minor, Op. 94 and Popper: Spinning Song

In 1892, Dvořák embarked on a tour of Bohemia and Moravia, which included the cellist Hanuš Wihan. To accommodate Wihan’s desire for a showcase piece, Dvořák composed the Rondo in G minor. Initially with piano accompaniment, he later adapted it for small orchestra.

David Popper (June 16, 1843 – August 7, 1913) was a Bohemian cellist and prolific composer of cello compositions. Many of his compositions showcase the virtuosic possibilities of the instrument with pieces like Spinnlied (Spinning Song), Elfentanz (Dance of the Elves), and Ungarische Rhapsodie (Hungarian Rhapsody). He also has been immortalized by his High School of Cello Playing (Op. 73), an iconic collection of cello études used the world over by advanced cello students.