String Quartets Nos. 7 - 9, Opus 59 - Rasumovsky (Beethoven)
Encyclopedia
The three "Rasoumovsky" string quartets, opus 59, are the quartets Ludwig van Beethoven
wrote in 1806, as a result of a commission by the Russian ambassador in Vienna
, Count Andreas Razumovsky
:
They are the first three of what are usually known as the "Middle Period" string quartets, or simply the "Middle Quartets." The other two are opus 74
and opus 95
. Many quartets record all five as a set.
Beethoven uses a characteristically "Russian" theme in the first two quartets in honor of the prince who gave him the commission. In Op. 59 No. 1, the "Thème russe" is the principal theme of the last movement. In Op. 59 No. 2, the "Thème russe" is in the B section of the third movement, the scherzo, this theme being based on a Russian folk song which was also utilized by Modest Mussorgsky
in his opera Boris Godunov
and by Igor Stravinsky
in his ballet The Firebird
. In the quartet Op. 59 No. 3, there is no "Thème russe" explicitly named in the score, but many commentators have heard a "Russian" character in the subject of the Andantino movement.
All three quartets were published as a set in 1808 in Vienna.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
wrote in 1806, as a result of a commission by the Russian ambassador in Vienna
Ambassador of Russia to Austria
Russian–Austrian contacts began with Frederick III in 1436, and towards the end of the 15th century, Emperor Maximilian I and Ivan III exchanged diplomatic missions. Regular Russian communications with the Austrian court began in 1698, when Peter the Great led the Grand Embassy to Vienna and met...
, Count Andreas Razumovsky
Andreas Razumovsky
Count Andrey Kirillovich Razumovsky was a Russian diplomat who spent many years of his life in Vienna.-Life :Razumovsky was the son of Cyril Razumovsky, the last hetman of Ukraine, and nephew of Aleksey Grigorievich Razumovsky, called the Night Emperor. The elder Rasumovsky's late Baroque palace...
:
- String Quartet No. 7String Quartet No. 7 (Beethoven)Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 7 in F major was published in 1808 as opus 59, No. 1. It consists of four movements:# Allegro in F major# Allegretto vivace e sempre scherzando in B major# Adagio molto e mesto - attacca in F minor...
in F major, Op. 59, No. 1 - String Quartet No. 8String Quartet No. 8 (Beethoven)The String Quartet No. 8 in E minor by Ludwig van Beethoven, opus 59, no. 2, was the second of three of his "Razumovsky" cycle of string quartets, and is a product of his "middle" style period. He published it in 1808...
in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2 - String Quartet No. 9String Quartet No. 9 (Beethoven)Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 9 in C major was published in 1808 as opus 59, no. 3. It consists of four movements:# Andante con moto - Allegro vivace # Andante con moto quasi Allegretto # Menuetto...
in C major, Op. 59, No. 3
They are the first three of what are usually known as the "Middle Period" string quartets, or simply the "Middle Quartets." The other two are opus 74
String Quartet No. 10 (Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 10 in E major, nicknamed the "Harp", was published in 1809 as opus 74.- Naming :The nickname "Harp" refers to the characteristic pizzicato sections in the Allegro of the first movement, where pairs of members of the quartet alternate notes in an arpeggio,...
and opus 95
String Quartet No. 11 (Beethoven)
Ludwig van Beethoven's opus 95, his String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, is his last before his exalted late string quartets. It is commonly referred to as the "Serioso," stemming from his title "Quartett[o] Serioso" at the beginning and the tempo designation for the third movement.It is one of the...
. Many quartets record all five as a set.
Beethoven uses a characteristically "Russian" theme in the first two quartets in honor of the prince who gave him the commission. In Op. 59 No. 1, the "Thème russe" is the principal theme of the last movement. In Op. 59 No. 2, the "Thème russe" is in the B section of the third movement, the scherzo, this theme being based on a Russian folk song which was also utilized by Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
in his opera Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov (opera)
Boris Godunov is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky . The work was composed between 1868 and 1873 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is Mussorgsky's only completed opera and is considered his masterpiece. Its subjects are the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar during the Time of Troubles,...
and by Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
in his ballet The Firebird
The Firebird
The Firebird is a 1910 ballet created by the composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographer Michel Fokine. The ballet is based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird of the same name that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor....
. In the quartet Op. 59 No. 3, there is no "Thème russe" explicitly named in the score, but many commentators have heard a "Russian" character in the subject of the Andantino movement.
All three quartets were published as a set in 1808 in Vienna.