ThetwoseriesofpianoduetscombinedinthisvolumeareamongDvoak'smostfamouscompositionsandamongthemostperformedworksinthepianofourhandsrepertoire.ThecomposerintendedthemasartisticstylizationsoftypicalSlavonicdancessuchasthefuriant,thedumka,thepolka,theskona,theodzemek,andthekolo.
Thefirstseriesofeightdances,Opus46(1878),isfullofjoyandvitality.Thesecondsetofeightdances,Opus72(1886),isslightlymoresomberandmeditative.Bothserieswilldelightpianistswiththeirexcitingrhythmsandfresh,highlyindividualinvention.TheyarereprintedherefromtheauthoritativeCzechoslovakianeditionsofDvoak'scompleteworks."