Dvořák: Two Waltzes Op.54 No. 1 & 4 for 2 violins, viola, violoncello & double bass

About the Composition This edition can be played by string quintet or string orchestra Originally for piano, the two waltzes from Op.54 were arranged for string quintet by the composer and are fun and accessible pieces which are suitable for any audience or occasion. The majority of the melodic material is played by violin 1, but each player is still an important and integral member of the ensemble, producing music which is easy of the ear but also wonderfully satisfying to play. The waltzes are stylish and charming, combining the elegance of the Viennese waltz with the fire and passion of the Czech romantic spirit. Originally the double bass was marked ad lib. by the composer, but the character and style of the music is surely enhanced by the addition of the double bass. In 1879, Dvořák was asked to compose a series of linked waltzes, alongside composers such as Smetana and Fibich, for a ball in Prague. He soon realised that his new dances would be better suited to concert performanc