The Moravian Duets , written to Moravian folk songs with Piano accompaniment, were instigated by Jan Neff, an influential wholesale merchant in Prague who employed Dvorak as a Piano teacher for hisfamily.

The composer first wrote Three Duets for Soprano and Tenor with Piano accompaniment, Op.20. The Neff family were delighted with them and so Dvorak continued with cycles II and III, Op.32, this time forfemale voices.

The entire collection culminated in 1877 with another four duets ...