Dvorak went through several style periods during his life as a composer. As a young man Dvorak admired Wagner's music and some of Dvorak's early works were heavily influenced by Wagner. read more
Dvořák's music stands out mainly because his New World Symphony was a harmonious and very melodic blend of classical music, Native American music and Afro-American spirituals; it bridged the gap between classical and popular music, especially the one that was to become popular in the 20th century. read more
First of all, at that time there weren't really any good American composers and and there wasn't a distinct American sound like there was a distinct Russian sound and a distinct French sound. So this symphony gained popularity in America just for being “American”. read more
Even many of those with no particular knowledge of music would immediately recognise the sound and style of it. This is probably even more true of Chopin’s music than of the music of other great composers like Bach, Mozart or Beethoven. read more