Antonin Dvorak was a leading composer of Czech national music. He rose from meager circumstances through the assistance of Brahms, who recommended Dvorak to his music publisher. Dvorak spent 3 years as the director of the National Conservatory of Music, where he developed a fascination with African American spirituals and Native American melodies, which he believed could be used as a basis for American nationalistic music. For more information on this influential artist, consult the web resources provided below.