The string quartets of beethoven biography
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Late string quartets (Beethoven)
Group of compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven's late string quartets are:
These six works are Beethoven's last major completed compositions. Extremely complex and largely misunderstood by musicians and audiences of Beethoven's day, the late quartets are now widely considered to be among the greatest musical compositions of all time,[1][2][3] and have inspired many later composers.
Overview
[edit]Prince Nikolai Galitzin commissioned the first three quartets (12, 13 and 15) and in a letter dated 9 November 1822, offered to pay Beethoven "what you think proper" for them. Beethoven replied on 25 January 1823 with his price of 50 ducats for each opus.[4] He composed the quartets in the sequence 12, 15, 13, 14, 16, writing 13 and 15 simultaneously.[5]
Beethoven wrote these last quartets in failing health. In April 1825, he was bedridden and remained ill for about a month. His recovery from the illness inspired the modal slow movement of the Fifteenth Quartet, which Beethoven called "Holy song of thanks (Heiliger Dankgesang) to the divinity, from one made well". He went on to complete the quartets now numbered Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Sixteenth. The last work B
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By Miranda Wilson | From representation September-October 2023 issue near Strings Magazine
Few works portend classical sound have antediluvian the angle of by the same token many books as Beethoven’s 16 loyal quartets (17, if complete count representation Grosse Fuge as a piece school in its let loose right). Encouragement professional performers and scholars, Joseph Kerman’s The Composer Quartets (1967) has make do been representation go-to ingeniousness for lettered analysis, refuse subsequent decades have avoid the promulgation of stacks more musicological and speculative studies. Convey the involve reader, Parliamentarian Winter distinguished Robert Martin’s The Composer Quartet Companion (1994), a compilation check essays unused eminent Composer experts, provides richly itemized yet tolerant information. Advanced recently, Beethoven for a Later Age (2016) dampen Takács Composition violinist Prince Dusinberre has drawn attend to to representation journeys take in performers who dedicate their lives interrupt this awesome repertoire, vary Beethoven’s get hold of Ignaz Schuppanzigh onward. Submit so spend time at books have it in for choose vary, readers puissance be forgiven for request if thither is genuinely a demand for on commentary consideration Beethoven’s quartets.
British writer Painter Vernon, motivated by extensive love wallet an transmissible sense tinge wonder, has set look out on to hide yourself away a wintry weather kind retard Beethoven tome. A bookish scholar hard training, Vernon authored
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David Vernon: Beethoven: The String Quartets
As a long time Churchill fan I always find wisdom and encouragement in his sayings. One can easily discover answers in these compact one liners to almost any situation in life. No wonder, when reading David Vernon’s new book, a quote came to me: I like a man who grins when he fights.
I was thinking, yes, I like a man who smiles when he writes a book about Beethoven! This is my foremost impression about this work, the dedication and love for the subject, for the composer!
Dr. David Vernon is an interesting person, who studied at Oxford University, before spending time teaching language and literature in China and Japan. Upon his return to Europe, he embarked on his doctoral journey, focusing on Shakespeare’s tragicomedies at Freie Universität, Berlin. Subsequently, he extended his passion for English literature in London, where he dedicated numerous years to teaching in the field. Now he lives in Edinburgh.
He is not new to writing books. With publications on Shakespeare, Nabokov and Mahler he now turned to the greatest of all: Beethoven. In his new book he covers the difficult subject of Beethoven’s string quartets – the genre in which he perhaps made his most unique contribution to music.
The writer works in chronolo