Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio
Song DNA
A deeply emotional adagio that showcases the cello's expressiveness.
Cultural Context
One of Dvořák's most beloved compositions.
Listening Prompt
Allow the music to resonate within you.
What to Expect
A gradual build-up of emotional depth.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: intimate, melancholy
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: instrumental.
Where this sits in Yo-Yo Ma's catalog
We have 13 songs from Yo-Yo Ma in the library. Of those, 6 are rated Safe, 4 Moderate, and 3 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits at the artist average of 7.0, making it the #6 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1996 context
Released in 1996. We have 309 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1990s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-05. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" by Yo-Yo Ma?
"Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" by Yo-Yo Ma rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, smooth texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" — what is its dynamic range?
"Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" best for?
In our library "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" is recommended for: anxiety relief, deep listening. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" released?
"Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" is from 1996, on the album "Dvořák: Cello Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme". It appears in our 1990s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio"?
We tag "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" as intimate, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio"?
The vocal style is instrumental.
Should I listen to "Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio"?
"Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104: II. Adagio" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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