String Quartet No. 13 (Beethoven)
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The String Quartet No. 13 in B♭ major, opus 130, by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in November 1825 [1]. The number traditionally assigned to it is based on the order of its publication; it is actually the fourteenth quartet in order of composition. It was premiered in March 1826 by the Schuppanzigh Quartet and dedicated to Nikolai Galitzin on its publication in 1827. Its original form consisted of six movements totalling approximately 50 minutes; they are as follows:
- Adagio, ma non troppo - Allegro
- Presto
- Andante con moto, ma non troppo. Poco scherzoso
- Alla danza tedesca. Allegro assai.
- Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo
- Große Fuge: Overtura - Allegro - Fuga
Nomenclature: "danza tedesca" is a German dance, "Cavatina" a short and simple song, "Große Fuge" is "Great (or Grand) Fugue". For other terms, see Italian musical terms.
After the first performance of this work, mixed reactions and publisher suggestion convinced Beethoven to substitute a different final movement, much shorter and lighter than the enormous Große Fuge. This movement is marked:
- 6. Finale: Allegro
The original finale was then published separately under the title Große Fuge as opus 133. Modern performances often follow the composer's original intentions, concluding with the fugue.
Beethoven was quite fond of fugues in his later years (others can be found in the final movements of the Hammerklavier Sonata, the Ninth Symphony, and the Piano Sonata No. 31).
The work is unusual among quartets in being written in six movements. The six follow the cycle of movements seen in the Ninth Symphony and occasionally elsewhere in Beethoven's work (opening, dance movement, slow movement, finale), except that the middle part of the cycle is repeated: opening, dance movement, slow movement, dance movement, slow movement, finale.
This quartet is among the most introspective and meditative of Beethoven's works, or indeed of any work in the entire chamber repertoire. Its opening movement sets out a grand scope for what follows. Although the impossibly sweet Danza tedesca movement takes a break from the weightiness, the ensuing Cavatina delivers the emotional punch of the work. It is intensely lyrical, with heartbreaking moans from the violin, evoking deep sympathy. The final Große Fuge begins grimly with grinding dissonances and unresolved themes, and works through some of the densest 15 minutes of music ever composed before moodily concluding.
[edit] See also
| String Quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven |
|---|
| String quartets, Op. 18 | Op. 18 No. 1 | Op. 18 No. 2 | Op. 18 No. 3 | Op. 18 No. 4 | Op. 18 No. 5 | Op. 18 No. 6 |
| String quartets, Op. 59 ("Rasumovsky") | Op. 59 No. 1 | Op. 59 No. 2 | Op. 59 No. 3 |
| Middle period quartets | Op. 74 ("Harp") | Op. 95 ("Serioso") |
| Late quartets | Op. 127 | Op. 130 | Op. 131 | Op. 132 | Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 | Op. 135 |
| Arrangement by Beethoven of Op. 14 No. 1 |
