e, which in 1890 was absorbed into the Prague Conservatory of Music. After Dvorak left the Organ School in 1859, he basically disappeared from the public eye for twelve years until 1871, which is when he emerged back into the public as a composer. For those twelve years he spent in seclusion, he was occupied with extensive writing in the classical form (8). To much grief and disappointment Dvoraks first son died in September and his second daughter in October of 1877. These tragic losses were experienced within his grandiose oratorio Stabat Mater. For the next twenty years, Dvorak was invited to other European countries to conduct performances of his own works while enduring a struggling relationship with his publisher Hitherto Simrock (7). In the spring of 1891 Dvorak received a telegram from Vienna inquiring that he accept an important job offer in New York, however he showed no interest. When he later received more details and then finally a contract he was more convinced. He would teach for three hours a day, prepare four students concerts, conduct six concerts of his own music in American towns, have a four month vacation and be paid $15,000 yearly (4). At first he wanted to accept the concert engagements but decline the directorship, however this did not suit Mrs. Thurber, who is the owner of the National Conservatory of Music in New York. After making several adjustments to the contract Dvorak agreed to accept the position for two years, although he was a little distraught about the journey away from the homeland he loved so much (3). Dvorak was due to arrive in New York when the celebrations for Columbus discovery of America were going on. Mrs. Thurber requested that Dvorak write a commemorative work for the occasion as well as for the 12th of October. Upon arrival to the U.S. Dvorak was formally greeted but was also mobbed by journalists who wanted to find out every little detail of the composers life. While in New...
