Antonín Dvořák’s song cycle “Cigánské melodie” (Gypsy Songs) op. 55 has long held a firm place in the art song repertoire. A new orchestration by the Montreal composer and conductor Daniel Black now makes this popular work available for performance with orchestra.

The cycle was composed in 1880 for the Austrian tenor Gustav Walter and includes seven short poems from Adolf Heyduk’s (1835–1923) earlier collection “Gedichte”. The text, which reflects the idealising of the way of life of the Roma in the mid-19th century, covers topics such as the connection between people and nature, the fundamental human need for music, and above all, the elevation of freedom to something which stands above all else. This emphasis on freedom refers to the increasing strength of Czech national identity in the late 19th century. The songs can be sung in Czech, German (both by Heyduk) or English (in a translation by Natalia Macfarren).

The new orchestration is available in both a transposition for high and low voice, and requires a small-to-medium sized orchestra with two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets (only in the last song), timpani, one percussionist, harp and strings. As much attention as possible has been paid to Dvořák’s sensitivity to orchestration: the orchestration is based on the “Biblical Songs” op. 99, orchestrated by the composer himself with an expanded group of woodwinds and two additional horns. The winds and strings are scored as closely as possible to the composer’s usual orchestration.
The richness of the orchestral colours underlines the folklore-like character of Dvořák’s setting and lends the accompaniment new depth and vitality. A recording of the version for high voice will be released soon on the Chandos label, with soprano Sara Jakubiak and the Sinfonia of London conducted by John Wilson.

Daniel Black
(from [t]akte 1/2026)