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, Zdenek Fibich
First edition
Simrock, 1879, Berlin
Main key
E minor
Duration
approx. 6 min.
Dvorak 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.