The piano works of Antonín Dvorák do not include many what might be called show pieces, which would afford their performer a brilliant, spectacular success. They are mostly turned inward, draw from intimate moods and are intended for the pleasure of the player himself. The Mazurkas are exactly such pieces. They were composed around 1880, Dvorák’s most fruitful period as far as piano pieces are concerned, under the influence of the various requests of musicians and especially publishers yearning for shorter works penned by the master’s hand. The Mazurkas were first published by Bote & Bock. The publication includes a Preface and Editor’s Notes and is part of the first Complete Edition of the Works of Antonín Dvorák.