25th Annual Student Research Conference
Beethoven String Quartet No. 4 Op. 18
Carlye S. Kleczkowski
Dr. Brian X. Kubin, Faculty Mentor
Out of his six early string quartets, Beethovens no. four quartet was composed last and is said to demonstrate his total mastery of the classical string quartet which was earlier developed by Mozart and Haydn. This is his only quartet to be written in C minor which after this was reserved for his more dramatic pieces including the famous Fifth Symphony. The first movement begins with the violin playing a worried theme over an agitated accompaniment played by the other three strings. This is interrupted by jagged, loud chords with accents placed on beats two and three instead of the common one and four, adding a different sound to the piece overall and a sense of driving forward. This lyrical minor passage continues until finally ending the exposition with odd quiet chords contrasting the loud chords heard earlier before developing into the recapitulation ending with three loud chords.
Keywords: Beethoven, String Quartet
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 301-1
Location: OP Performance Hall
Time: 1:00