Beethoven String Quartet (E-flat minor Op. 131..): E-flat minor Op. 131..

Author: Beethoven
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: Beethoven's String Quartets
String quartets as an art form were pioneered and developed by Haydn, who was Beethoven's teacher, and Mozart, who greatly influenced Beethoven in his creative work. Throughout his life, Beethoven composed sixteen string quartets. While this number may not be as large as Haydn's eighty-four or Mozart's nearly thirty, almost every one of these sixteen quartets possesses distinct characteristics, making them shining pearls in the treasure trove of string quartets and occupying a very important position. In the history of the development of string quartets, they have become a milestone that followed Haydn and Mozart while exerting a profound influence on later composers. Today, opening any string quartet concert program, it is rare to find one that does not include works by Beethoven. International string quartet competitions around the world, such as the London Competition in the UK, the Pochiatici Competition in Italy, the "Banff" Competition in Canada, and the Melbourne Competition in Australia, all include Beethoven's later works in their final rounds. The Chamber Music Competitions in Osaka, Japan, and Munich, Germany, even require that each round of the three rounds must feature a string quartet from a different period of Beethoven's works. Clearly, Beethoven's quartets have become a test for performers, and professional quartets must establish themselves on stage by demonstrating their mastery of Beethoven's works. The combination of a string quartet may seem simple—just two violins, a viola, and a cello—but it has long been regarded by composers as the foundation of compositional technique.