This quartet sometimes known as The American was written inside a fortnight in June 1893 while Dvorák and his family were staying in the Czech settlement al Spilleville Iowa. At the end of the score he wrote: Thanks be to God. I am satisfied: It went quickly.

Streichquartett-Dvo ák?s String Quartet No.5 in F minor of 1873 represents musically speaking a fundamental re-orientation of the composer. It has nothing that reminds one of his excessive admiration for the music of Wagner and Liszt. Instead Dvo ák re-establishes contact with the classical String Quartet tradition.The autograph score once in the possession of Dvo ák?s heirs is no longer accessible. This edition is based on the posthumously printed edition of 1929.

During his time in America (1892-95) Dvorák suffered with homesickness. It was whilst living in New York that he began his String Quartet In A Flat Major but he did not complete the piece until afterhis return to Bohemia in December 1895.There is no trace of the influence of Indian or African-American music in this his final chamber work; rather the piece is striking for the amount of cantabile themes and motives and their contrasting and artistic treatment. It seems that his relief at seeing his children and family again directly influenced the work. Dvorák himself wrote in a letter during its composition that 'Almighty God hasgranted us this cheerful moment and thus we all feel unutterably happy'.This Henle publication is the first Urtext edition of the Quartet since 1955.