Dvorák created the String Quartet in E-flat major (1879) on the request of Jean Becker, first violinist of one of the most important European chamber ensembles of the time, the Florentine Quartet. After the success Dvorák had achieved with his previous works inspired by folk music of the Slavonic nations, Becker emphasised that the new quartet should also be written in a “Slavonic spirit”. The piece, dedicated to Jean Becker, was published by Simrock in the same year it was completed. The Slavonic character of the piece truly permeates the whole composition – the thematic material and the rhythmic and harmonic components reflect folk music in a highly stylised form. The second movement is one of Dvorák’s most accomplished dumkas, the third movement is titled “Romanza”, the fast final movement is a stylisation of the Czech folk dance “skocná”. The current edition of the parts is published within the first Complete Edition of the Works of Antonín Dvorák.