Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904) is considered, with Bedrich Smetana, the founder of Czech (Bohemian) national music.

Born near Prague, Dvorák studied the violin with the local school master. In 1857 he attended the organ school in the city. Here he met Smetana, who directed the Opera Orchestra in which Dvorák played the viola.

With Johannes Brahms' encouragement, he then devoted himself to composition, later becoming professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory.

From 1892 until 1895 he served as the director of the new National Conservatory in New York, and made several trips to England where he was very popular and much admired.