Third String Quartet, “Song of Joy and Gladness”

Antun Dobronić (1878 – 1955) was a Croatian composer and pupil of Vítězslav Novák. He studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1910 to 1912. From 1922 to 1940, he served as professor at the Zagreb Academy of Music. His works show a strong streak of Croatian nationalism, which also is manifest in his writings on music. He sought to integrate high culture music techniques with traditional Croatian folk elements. Dobronić was a prolific composer. He composed eight symphonies and six ballets. He also composed operas, chamber music, and works for choirs. Antun Dobronić composed his Third String Quartet in 1925, naming it Song of Joy and Gladness. From this programmatic title it can be seen that he wanted to summon up various modes and atmospheres, mostly suffused with cheerfulness and lyricism. This latter is particularly well manifested in the second movement, Andante amoroso. The work was first performed by the Zagreb Quartet on June 7, 1929, at the 8th Social Concert of the Croatian Music Institute in Zagreb.