Violin Sonatina (Dvořák)

Dvořák catered the sonatina to the gradually developing musical abilities of his children, especially those of his 15-year-old daughter Otilie [cs] and 10-year-old son Toník, who played piano and violin respectively.

The four short movements of the sonatina each exhibit a simple and clear, formal structure (hence the diminutive, cf.

[2] A motive for the slow movement Larghetto was hurriedly noted down on Dvořák's shirt sleeve while on a visit to Minnehaha Falls, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[3] Simrock sold this movement separately, without the composer's permission, and Fritz Kreisler often performed it as Indian Lament.

It also appeared as Indian Canzonetta; such romantic titles were not the composer's, but were added subsequently by publishers.