b'Program NotescontinuedDespite a successful premiere of the new version, it took roughly thirty years before it was fully accepted into the standard repertoire. This took place after the great violin virtuoso Jascha Heifetz made the concertos first recording in 1935.Instrumentationtwo flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, strings, and solo violinDuration31 minutesAntonn Dvok(1841-1904)Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95"From the New World"Composed 1892-93In 1892, Dvok was invited by Jeanette Thurber to become director of the National Conservatory of Music of America, an offer he accepted to the surprise of many as he was arguably the worlds most famous living composer. During his three-year stint in the United States, Dvok became extremely interested in Native American and African American melodies and harmonies. He was introduced to spirituals by his student Harry T. Burleigh, who would sing these melodies on his frequent visits to the Dvok home. With a good amount of persuasion by Mrs. Thurber, and finding inspiration in American folk music, Dvok began the work that would later become Symphony No. 9, From the New World.The symphony was written in 1892-93 and premiered by the New York Philharmonic on December 15th, 1893 with Anton Seidl conducting a public rehearsal. The official premiere took place the following evening at Carnegie Hall. The premiere was met with tremendous success. Soon after it was published, the symphony was performed regularly by orchestras all over the world and instantly became part of the standard repertory. There is still some debate over whether or not the symphony sounds specifically American or not. Certainly, there are moments within the symphony princetonsymphony.org/ 17/ princetonfestival.org'