Mazurek for Violin and Piano in E minor, Op. 49, B89

Opus number

49

Burghauser catalogue number

89

Date of composition

February 1879

Premiere - date and place

29 March 1879, Prague

Premiere performer(s)

Ferdinand Lachner, Zdeněk Fibich

First edition

Simrock, 1879, Berlin

Main key

E minor

Duration

approx. 6 min.

Dvořák wrote his Mazurek in E minor at the request of his publisher Simrock who, after the success of Slavonic Dances, commissioned from the composer a short piece for violin in the same style. The simple form is constructed from two contrasting themes, one highly rhythmical, the other lyrical. Simrock published the Mazurek the year it was written, and it bore a dedication to Pablo de Sarasate. The piece also exists in a version with orchestral accompaniment.