on 15 october 1880, the day before finishing the score of his sixth symphony, dvořák wrote to his publisher fritz simrock about his plans for the near future saying he hoped to finish a piano duet cycle, "legends," in the next month. he did not, however, begin to sketch the work until 30 january 1881. the definitive shape of the piano version was created from 12 february to 23 march 1881, partly in prague and partly in vysoká u příbrami.