String Quartet No. 4 (Dvořák)

Antonín Dvořák composed his string quartet number 4 in E minor, B. 19 at some stage in the years 1869 and 1870.[1][2] It was one of three (together with the quartets numbers 2, and 3) which Dvořák later believed he had destroyed after he had disposed of the scores.

Background

Despite Dvořák's efforts to destroy the work, copies of the individual instrumental parts in his own script were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, allowing its reconstruction.[1] The quartet was printed in 1968 as part of the complete critical edition of Dvořák's works,[3] and subsequently published by Barenreiter/Supraphon in their Urtext edition. It received its first performance by the Prague Quartet, for Deutsche Gramophon, Jan/Feb 1976,[2] and its first public performance in 1990, by the Martinu Quartet, in Prague.[1]

Structure

The quartet is in one continuous movement, but with three distinct sections.[3]

1. Velmi pohyblive a razne (Assai con moto ed energico)

2. Andante religioso

3. Allegro con brio (with a reprise of some of the Andante religioso content towards the end, prior to a fast finish)

Related works

The music of the second section, marked 'Andante religioso', was later used as the basis for a movement of the second quintet (G major) B.49 which in turn was arranged for the Nocturne for Strings in B major, Op. 40 (B. 47) (also published in the composer's own arrangements for Violin and Piano, B.48a and Piano Duet, B.48b).

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 English language version of page about Dvořák's String Quartet No 4 at a Czech site
  2. 1 2 (Herbert/ Trufitt Pp.16/17)
  3. 1 2 Parts published by Barenreiter/Supraphon Urtext edition/ Kriticke Vydani (H4592) dating from 1968

Fuller References

External links


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