Collection of the Antonín Dvořák Museum

The most valuable part of the whole collection is the set of music manuscripts. It holds Dvořák's autographs, containing both sketches and scores, including fragments and piano reductions, important manuscripts and the composer's and other’s revisions. The set contains operas and orchestral pieces, vocal and instrumental music, chamber compositions and piano pieces, choral pieces and songs.  

Dvořák's correspondence, both sent and received, is also extensive. In addition to letters, this set contains other forms of correspondence, like postal cards, postcards, telegrams, letter cards, visiting cards with hand written text, etc.

Beside Dvořák’s various handwritten notes, the collection of Antonín Dvořák’s music-related manuscripts holds important documents closely connected with Dvořák’s work, written by other significant figures. There are two important lists of Dvořák’s works.

Dvořák’s personal documents, documents associated with his composing, and also documents related to his ancestors and his family make another part of the collection. It includes, for example, his birth certificate and the report from the organ school.  

The set of the first and later editions of Antonín Dvořák's works includes significant first editions with the publisher's or the composer’s notes, and also later editions of his works up to the present.

Another part of the collection consists of Dvořák’s diplomas and honorary titles. The collection includes honorary titles, diplomas and the first awards that Dvořák received in his lifetime from various Czech associations and organizations.

The composer's library is important for the study of his work and his life. It contains works of literature that inspired Dvořák’s vocal compositions, literary fiction and scholarly literature.

Antonín Dvořák’s iconography is also of great importance, containing photographs of Dvořák - portraits, group photographs and snapshots. There are also   various works of art portraying Antonín Dvořák.

The set of three-dimensional objects consists primarily of personal objects and furniture from Dvořák's study, for example Dvořák’s piano, writing desk, watch, stationery and so on.

The audio and visual recordings of Antonín Dvořák’s works (vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, tapes, etc.) make a no less important set.

The collection also holds the fonds of printed documentation, including in particular documents showing how Dvořák's works were received by contemporaries – programmes, theatre signs, posters and clippings.

In addition to collection pieces, it also holds a documentation fonds and a specialized library.