Going Home in C Major – A Gentle First Step into Dvořák’s New World

There’s something timeless about the second movement of Dvořák’s New World Symphony.
The Largo theme—later adapted into the beloved spiritual-style song “Going Home”—has touched hearts for generations with its peaceful, heartfelt character.

Dvořák composed this symphony during his time in the United States in the early 1890s, while serving as director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York. Immersed in the sounds of African American spirituals, Native American themes, and his own Czech heritage, Dvořák encouraged American musicians to find their voice by embracing these rich musical roots.

Though Largo was not based on a specific folk tune, Dvořák expressed that the music carried the soul of his homeland, even as he composed it in a foreign land. Later, his student William Arms Fisher added lyrics, turning the melody into “Going Home”—a song about returning, resting, and remembering.

That’s why many interpret this movement as an expression of longing for home from afar, and that feeling lives on in every phrase.

🎶 Why C Major?

In this tutorial, we begin with a C Major version of “Going Home”—not the original key,
but an excellent starting point for violinists learning tone, phrasing, and shifting with confidence.

📩 Sheet Music & Performance Video Access

To help you learn Going Home in C Major,
we’ve prepared first-position sheet music and a full performance video just for you.
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