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The string quartet drew attention not only from classical music fans but also from a wider audience after being featured in the 2017 TV drama “Quartet.”
Perhaps some of you were captivated by its charm through the show.
A string quartet is a form of chamber ensemble consisting of two violins, a viola, and a cello.
Since being established in the late 18th century by Franz Joseph Haydn, it has been cherished as the most refined form of chamber music.
In this article, we introduce masterpieces brimming with the allure of the string quartet.
Please enjoy the elegant and refined resonance of string instruments.
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[Quartet] Masterpieces and Popular Pieces for String Quartet (1–10)
Adagio for Strings, Op. 11Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber, an American composer, wrote this piece while studying in Italy.
The second movement was arranged for string orchestra and is widely known as Adagio for Strings.
It became famous after being used at the funeral of John F.
Kennedy and has frequently appeared in films and television dramas.
Its sobbing melody and the climactic outburst near the end of the middle section are especially striking.
It is a work in which flashes of intensity and passion can be glimpsed amid sadness and poignancy.
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich, a leading Russian pianist and composer, is also known for his String Quartet No.
8 in C minor, Op.
110, which he is said to have completed in just three days.
Written against the backdrop of Russia’s unstable situation and oppressive regime in 1960, the piece conveys anger, sorrow, and despair through its somber melodies.
It is said that Shostakovich shed tears after performing the work.
String Quartet No. 2 in D majorAlexander Borodin
Alexander Borodin, who was a scientist and physician by profession, also composed numerous masterpieces that represent the 19th century.
Among them is his String Quartet No.
2 in D major, which he wrote as a dedication to his wife.
It begins with a first movement in sonata form, followed by a second movement in song form, and proceeds through the main theme toward the finale.
The overall romantic and elegant atmosphere conveys the deep love Alexander Borodin felt for his wife.
String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132, III. “A Convalescent’s Holy Song of Thanksgiving to the Deity, in the Lydian mode.”Ludwig van Beethoven
This is an exceptionally accomplished string quartet composed two years before Beethoven’s death.
The third movement of this five-movement work serves as the overall climax, a piece filled with gentle joy.
It evokes his Symphony No.
9—conjuring even a beautiful scene like a sudden sunshower followed by a rainbow—truly a quintessential example of his artistry.
Written after Beethoven recovered from a grave illness he had feared, the piece adopts a bright, jubilant tone.
String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11, II. MovementPyotr Tchaikovsky
This is a string quartet composed in February 1871 by the Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
It was dedicated to his friend Sergei Ladizhinsky.
The famous melody at the beginning of the Andante cantabile, the second movement of Quartet No.
1, is based on a folk song Tchaikovsky heard in Ukraine.
This melody has also been arranged for mood music and other settings.
The piece is characterized by its sweet melody and an embrace-like gentleness.
String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1 – II. MovementJohannes Brahms
Released simultaneously with the String Quartet No.
2, both works are dedicated to his close friend Theodor Billroth, a renowned surgeon and amateur musician.
It is well known that Brahms was haunted by the towering specter of Beethoven when composing symphonies, taking more than twenty years to complete his Symphony No.
1.
He was equally cautious with his string quartets, spending at least eight years on the first two, which were unveiled together.
This is a deeply moving piece that combines gentle, sweet melodies with a touch of wistful longing.
String Quartet No. 77 in C major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 “Emperor”, II. MovementFranz Joseph Haydn
A string quartet composed by the Classical master Franz Haydn.
Among his works, this piece—affectionately known as the “Emperor”—is distinguished by its grand melody that later became the German national anthem.
Inspired by the national anthem he encountered during his stay in England, Haydn composed it in 1797.
Infused with patriotism for Austria, which was threatened by Napoleon’s invading forces, its powerful yet beautiful character captivates listeners.
Even those unfamiliar with classical music will surely be drawn into the allure of the string quartet when they hear this piece.