The String Quartet, 1750–1797


Book Description

The second half of the eighteenth century witnessed a flourishing of the string quartet, often represented as a smooth and logical progression from first violin-dominated homophony to a more equal conversation between the four voices. Yet this progression was neither as smooth nor as linear as previously thought, as Mara Parker illustrates in her examination of the string quartet during this period. Looking at a wide variety of string quartets by composers such as Pleyel, Distler and Filtz, in addition to Haydn and Mozart, the book proposes a new way of describing the relationships between the four instruments in different works. Broadly speaking, these relationships follow one of four patterns: the 'lecture', the 'polite conversation', the 'debate', and the 'conversation'. In focusing on these musical discourses, it becomes apparent that each work is the product of its composer's stylistic choices, location, intended performers and intended audience. Instead of evolving in a strict and universal sequence, the string quartet in the latter half of the eighteenth century was a complex genre with composers mixing and matching musical discourses as circumstances and their own creative impulses required.




String quartet


Book Description







The Cambridge Companion to the String Quartet


Book Description

This Companion offers a concise and authoritative survey of the string quartet by eleven chamber music specialists. Its fifteen carefully structured chapters provide coverage of a stimulating range of perspectives previously unavailable in one volume. It focuses on four main areas: the social and musical background to the quartet's development; the most celebrated ensembles; string quartet playing, including aspects of contemporary and historical performing practice; and the mainstream repertory, including significant 'mixed ensemble' compositions involving string quartet. Various musical and pictorial illustrations and informative appendixes, including a chronology of the most significant works, complete this indispensable guide. Written for all string quartet enthusiasts, this Companion will enrich readers' understanding of the history of the genre, the context and significance of quartets as cultural phenomena, and the musical, technical and interpretative problems of chamber music performance. It will also enhance their experience of listening to quartets in performance and on recordings.




String Quartet in F Major


Book Description

A string quartet, composed by Maurice Ravel.




More Folk Strings for String Quartet or String Orchestra


Book Description

More Folk Strings is a collection of melodies from around the world, in a variety of moods and with rhythmic patterns and harmonies that are representative of their country of origin. Because of the flexible scoring used in More Folk Strings, players at a variety of levels can make music together and less experienced players can play the solo (melody) parts, which use little or no shifting and are in accessible keys. Some pieces in the collection are easier than others. The collection is available in a number of instrumentations for string quartet or string orchestra, for violin ensemble, viola ensemble, cello ensemble, for two, three, or four violin, viola or cello players in any combination of these instruments, and for solo violin, solo viola, and solo cello. The piano accompaniment may be used with any of the combinations. In More Folk Strings for String Quartet or String Orchestra, the melody is passed around so that all members of the ensemble can have the opportunity to play the tune. Score and parts are marked with "melody" and "harmony" to help players bring out the melody at the appropriate moment. Teachers' notes provide lyrics and background information on each folk song in addition to rehearsal and performance suggestions.




String quartet in F major


Book Description




String Quartets


Book Description

This research guide is an annotated bibliography of sources dealing with the string quartet. This second edition is organized as in the original publication (chapters for general references, histories, individual composers, aspects of performance, facsimiles and critical editions, and miscellaneous topics) and has been updated to cover research since publication of the first edition. Listings in the previous volume have been updated to reflect the burgeoning interest in this genre (social aspects, newly issued critical editions, doctoral dissertations). It also offers commentary on online links, databases, and references.




String quartets, op. 17


Book Description

In the course of a 50-year period, Haydn composed some 80 string quartets, whose range and variety of structural invention rank second only to those of Beethoven. This fine new anthology consists of the six pieces known collectively as Op. 17: String Quartet in E Major, Op. 17, No. 1; String Quartet in F Major, Op. 17, No. 2; String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3, and three other pieces.