1875 was a very fruitful year for Antonín Dvovák: he wrote his 'Symphony No. 5', 'String Quintet No. 2', 'Piano Trio No. 1', the opera 'Vanda', and the 'Serenade for Strings'.
The 'Serenade for Strings' was composed in only two weeks and remains one of the composer's more popular orchestral works to this day. The serenade consists of five movements and all (with the exception of the finale) follow a rough ABA form. It is believed that Dvorák took up this small orchestral genre because it was less demanding than the symphony, but allowed for the provision of pleasure and entertainment.
The first movement ('Moderato') in a beautiful cantabile style is now transcribed for a small wind ensemble by Argentinean arranger Miguel Etchegoncelay.