Prussian Quartets (Mozart)
Encyclopedia
The Prussian Quartets are a set of three string quartets, nos. 21–23 (K. 575, 589, 590), nicknamed 'Prussian', composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
between 1789-90 and dedicated to the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm II
. Although not considered on a par with the earlier, more famous 'Haydn Quartets
' (K. 387, 421, 428, 458, 464, 465), these pieces are noted for their beauty, equilibrium amongst the instruments and the exceptional prominence and cantabile nature of the cello part (the instrument played by the king himself). These are also the only pieces in this genre that Mozart composed 'to order', i.e. as a commission from a royal patron.
Due to the prominence of the cello
part these quartets came to be known as 'Concertante Quartets'.
was the only one completed). He was paid 100 Friedrichsd’or for his work. But thereafter Mozart received no more of his promised fees. In effect Mozart withheld the dedication and engraved the piece at his own expense as he wrote in a letter to his friend and fellow freemason Michael von Puchberg
: "…I am meanwhile composing…six quartets for the King, all of which Kozeluch is going to engrave at my expense."
Mozart never dedicated the pieces to the Prussian King, so the title of these quartets has originated from his private 'thematic catalogue' of his own work (which he was keeping at the time). He entered them as A quartet for 2 violins, viola, and cello, for his Majesty the King of Prussia.
Haydn had been very impressed by these quartets, so much so that he is known to have said:
But these quartets have sunk since their heyday. Although they are regularly performed and well loved by audiences they are not considered as pivotal as his earlier Haydn Quartets
.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
between 1789-90 and dedicated to the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm II
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
. Although not considered on a par with the earlier, more famous 'Haydn Quartets
Haydn Quartets (Mozart)
The "Haydn" Quartets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are a set of six string quartets published in 1785 in Vienna, dedicated to the composer Joseph Haydn. They are considered to be the pinnacle of Classical string quartet writing, containing some of Mozart's most memorable melodic writing and refined...
' (K. 387, 421, 428, 458, 464, 465), these pieces are noted for their beauty, equilibrium amongst the instruments and the exceptional prominence and cantabile nature of the cello part (the instrument played by the king himself). These are also the only pieces in this genre that Mozart composed 'to order', i.e. as a commission from a royal patron.
The Quartets
- String Quartet No. 21String Quartet No. 21 (Mozart)The String Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K. 575, was written in June 1789 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It has acquired the nickname The Violet...
in D majorD majorD major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
, K. 575 (1789) - String Quartet No. 22String Quartet No. 22 (Mozart)The String Quartet No. 22 in B-flat Major, K. 589, was written in May 1790 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is the second of the Prussian Quartets.There are four movements:#Allegro, in B flat major#Larghetto#Menuetto: Moderato#Allegro assai, in B flat major...
in B flat majorB flat majorB major or B-flat major is a major scale based on B-flat, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats, B/E .Its relative minor is G minor, and its parallel minor is B minor....
, K. 589 (1790) - String Quartet No. 23String Quartet No. 23 (Mozart)The String Quartet No. 23 in F Major, K. 590, was written in July 1790 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is the third of the Prussian Quartets.There are four movements:#Allegro moderato, in F major#Andante#Menuetto: Allegretto#Allegro F major...
in F majorF majorF major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
, K. 590 (1790)
Due to the prominence of the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
part these quartets came to be known as 'Concertante Quartets'.
Historical background
While Mozart was composing these quartets he was also working on a set of sonatas for the King's daughter, Princess Friederike (K. 576Piano Sonata No. 18 (Mozart)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K 576 is a sonata in three movements:#Allegro#Adagio#AllegrettoA typical performance takes about 15 minutes....
was the only one completed). He was paid 100 Friedrichsd’or for his work. But thereafter Mozart received no more of his promised fees. In effect Mozart withheld the dedication and engraved the piece at his own expense as he wrote in a letter to his friend and fellow freemason Michael von Puchberg
Michael von Puchberg
Johann Michael von Puchberg was a textile merchant who lived in Vienna in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
: "…I am meanwhile composing…six quartets for the King, all of which Kozeluch is going to engrave at my expense."
Mozart never dedicated the pieces to the Prussian King, so the title of these quartets has originated from his private 'thematic catalogue' of his own work (which he was keeping at the time). He entered them as A quartet for 2 violins, viola, and cello, for his Majesty the King of Prussia.
Critical reception
Initially the quartets were enthusiastically received. For instance the Wiener Zeitung announced the publication of the quartets as follows:- From Artaria Comp., art dealers in the Kohlmarkt are to be had: Three entirely new concertante quartets for two violins, viola and violoncello by Hr. Kapellmeister Mozart Op 18. These quartets are one of the estimable works of the composer Mozart, who was torn untimely from this world; they flowed from the pen of this so great musical genius not long before his death, and they display all that musical interest in respect of Art, Beauty, and Taste, which must awaken pleasure and admiration not only in the amateur but the true connoisseur also.
Haydn had been very impressed by these quartets, so much so that he is known to have said:
- If Mozart had written nothing but his violin quartets and the Requiem, they alone would have been sufficient to make him immortal.
But these quartets have sunk since their heyday. Although they are regularly performed and well loved by audiences they are not considered as pivotal as his earlier Haydn Quartets
Haydn Quartets (Mozart)
The "Haydn" Quartets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are a set of six string quartets published in 1785 in Vienna, dedicated to the composer Joseph Haydn. They are considered to be the pinnacle of Classical string quartet writing, containing some of Mozart's most memorable melodic writing and refined...
.
External links
- Performance of String Quartet No. 23 by the Orion String QuartetOrion String QuartetThe Orion String Quartet is a string quartet formed in 1987. It is the quartet-in-residence of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and New York's Mannes College of Music. The members are Todd and Daniel Phillips, brothers who alternate on first and second violin, violist Steven Tenenbom...
from the Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner MuseumThe Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or Fenway Court, as the museum was known during Isabella Stewart Gardner's lifetime, is a museum in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts and near the Back Bay Fens...
in MP3MP3MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
format