Famous String Quartet Composers in History
The origin of string quartets trace back as far as the 14th century.
However, it is in the 18th century when the most famous compositions were made solely for the ensemble.
Typically, this ensemble is composed of four stringed instruments.
These instruments are the cello, the viola, and the two violins.
The following are some of the most famous composers for this ensemble in history, along with their works: Joseph Haydn The discovery of the string quartet is said to be by accident when Baron Fürnberg asked Joseph Haydn to compose a piece for a group composed of four amateur musicians.
These group was composed a cellist, a violist, and two violinists.
For this and the 68 compositions made by Haydn for the ensemble he is often noted as the "Father of the String Quartet".
The most famous of his compositions are the "Erdody" Quartets in Op.
76 and the six quartets in Op.
33.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart A close friend to Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed 23 masterpieces important to the development of the ensemble.
These famous compositions include six quartets that he created to honor Haydn.
These are the No.
14 in G major (1782), No.
15 in D minor (1783), No.
16 in E-flat major (1783), No.
17 in B-flat major nicknamed The Hunt (1784), No.
18 in A major (1785), and No.
19 in C major nicknamed Dissonance (1785).
Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven, who studied under Haydn, composed 16 of the most acclaimed string quartets of all time.
Between 1788 and 1790, he composed his first six quartets which was dedicated and commissioned for Prince Lobkowitz in Austria.
These compositions are regarded by scholars as inspired by style of Mozart and Haydn.
Beethoven next compositions are regarded by music scholars as his contributions to the evolution of this type of classical music.
His next three quartets known as the Rasumovsky was composed in 1806.
In 1809, Beethoven composed Opus 74, also called as the Harp.
In 1810, he composed Opus 95, also known as the Serioso.
His late compositions are Opus 127 (1823/24), Opus 130 (1825), Opus 131 (1826), Opus 132 (1825), Opus 133 also known as the Große Fuge in B-flat major (1826), and Opus 135 (1826).
Franz Schubert The famous Austrian composer Franz Schubert created some of the most famous string quartets as well.
His famous compositions include Quartettsatz, Rosamunde, Death and the Maiden, and his final composition No.
15 in G major.
Felix Mendelssohn The well-known German composer Felix Mendelssohn, a follower of the works of Franz Schubert, contributed six quartets.
His string quartet compositions are Opus 12, Opus 13, Opus 44 No.
1, Opus 44 No.
2, Opus 44 No.
3, and Opus 80.
However, it is in the 18th century when the most famous compositions were made solely for the ensemble.
Typically, this ensemble is composed of four stringed instruments.
These instruments are the cello, the viola, and the two violins.
The following are some of the most famous composers for this ensemble in history, along with their works: Joseph Haydn The discovery of the string quartet is said to be by accident when Baron Fürnberg asked Joseph Haydn to compose a piece for a group composed of four amateur musicians.
These group was composed a cellist, a violist, and two violinists.
For this and the 68 compositions made by Haydn for the ensemble he is often noted as the "Father of the String Quartet".
The most famous of his compositions are the "Erdody" Quartets in Op.
76 and the six quartets in Op.
33.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart A close friend to Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed 23 masterpieces important to the development of the ensemble.
These famous compositions include six quartets that he created to honor Haydn.
These are the No.
14 in G major (1782), No.
15 in D minor (1783), No.
16 in E-flat major (1783), No.
17 in B-flat major nicknamed The Hunt (1784), No.
18 in A major (1785), and No.
19 in C major nicknamed Dissonance (1785).
Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven, who studied under Haydn, composed 16 of the most acclaimed string quartets of all time.
Between 1788 and 1790, he composed his first six quartets which was dedicated and commissioned for Prince Lobkowitz in Austria.
These compositions are regarded by scholars as inspired by style of Mozart and Haydn.
Beethoven next compositions are regarded by music scholars as his contributions to the evolution of this type of classical music.
His next three quartets known as the Rasumovsky was composed in 1806.
In 1809, Beethoven composed Opus 74, also called as the Harp.
In 1810, he composed Opus 95, also known as the Serioso.
His late compositions are Opus 127 (1823/24), Opus 130 (1825), Opus 131 (1826), Opus 132 (1825), Opus 133 also known as the Große Fuge in B-flat major (1826), and Opus 135 (1826).
Franz Schubert The famous Austrian composer Franz Schubert created some of the most famous string quartets as well.
His famous compositions include Quartettsatz, Rosamunde, Death and the Maiden, and his final composition No.
15 in G major.
Felix Mendelssohn The well-known German composer Felix Mendelssohn, a follower of the works of Franz Schubert, contributed six quartets.
His string quartet compositions are Opus 12, Opus 13, Opus 44 No.
1, Opus 44 No.
2, Opus 44 No.
3, and Opus 80.
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