The Scherzo capriccioso was composed in the same period (1883-84) as the Symphony No.7, Op.70 and the Piano Trio in F minor, Op.65 , in which Dvorak delved into dramatic and darker colors than those which characterize other works. The present work followed on the heels of the piano trio, completed between April 4 and May 2 of 1883. The premiere took place in Prague's National Theatre on May 16 with the NTO under the direction of Adolf Cech. Publication followed the next year with a Berlin competitor of Dvorak's main publisher Simrock, Bote und Bock. This new study score is a digitally enhanced reissue of the full score first published in 1955 by the Czech State Publishers as part of the Dvorak collected works, edited by Otakar Sourek.

Unlike so many of the on-demand scores now available, this one comes with all the pages and the images have been thoroughly checked to make sure it is readable. As with all PLP scores a percentage of each sale is donated to the amazing online archive of free music scores and recordings, IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library.