Dvořák composed two works during his stay in Spillville, Iowa in the summer of 1893: the “American” quartet and a String Quintet in a minor.  Spillville is in northeast Iowa in the hills of Winneshiek County.  In the mid 1850’s, it was settled by a large group of Bohemian immigrants taking advantage of a government sponsored settlement agreement.  By the time Dvořák arrived the town had grown to 350 people, the majority of whom spoke Czech.  He had been in New York City since the previous year, and at the suggestion of his Czech-American assistant, spent a few months in Spillville.  It felt like home, including a Czech language Catholic Church.  He and his family stayed in what is now the Bily Clock Museum.  Dvořák often attended daily mass at the church and regularly played the organ for services.  He composed in the mornings, went on excursions with his family in the afternoons and spent the evenings talking with the locals learning about life in rural Iowa.

The “American” Quartet is more American in name than content.  Dvořák does not quote any American melodies but does include a “flavor” of the new world.  Much of the work emphasizes a pentatonic scale pattern (a scale of five tones, not the normal seven) which lends an “openness” to the work.  The first movement has a gypsy feel to it with its romping melody in the viola.  Some historians believe the melancholy second movement comes from a Native American tune that Dvořák heard during his stay in Spillville.  The third movement is reminiscent of Dvořák’s Bohemian home with its dotted dance rhythms and includes an altered version of a birdsong that he heard in Spillville.  The last movement is a rondo with a recurring brisk main theme alternating with contrasting tunes, one of which was an organ improvisation he played at the local church.