String Quartet No. 13 (Schubert)
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The String Quartet No. 13 in A minor
(the Rosamunde Quartet), D. 804, Op. 29, was written by Franz Schubert
between February and March 1824. It dates roughly to the same time as his monumental Death and the Maiden Quartet, emerging around three years after his previous attempt to write for the string quartet
genre, the Quartettsatz that he never finished.
Schubert dedicated the work to Schuppanzigh
, who served as the first violin
ist of the string quartet appointed by Beethoven
. Schuppanzigh himself played in the premiere performance which took place on 14 March 1824.
The quartet consists of four movements which last around 30 minutes in total.
The first movement opens in a way reminiscent of the melancholic theme from one of Schubert's earliest songs, Gretchen am Spinnrade
. It is the second movement, however, which has lent the Quartet its nickname, being based on a theme from the incidental music for Rosamunde
(a similar theme appears in the Impromptu in B-flat written three years later). The minuet is inspired by the melody of another song by Schubert, Die Götter Griechenlands, D. 677.
A minor
A minor is a minor scale based on A, consisting of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The harmonic minor scale raises the G to G...
(the Rosamunde Quartet), D. 804, Op. 29, was written by Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
between February and March 1824. It dates roughly to the same time as his monumental Death and the Maiden Quartet, emerging around three years after his previous attempt to write for the string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
genre, the Quartettsatz that he never finished.
Schubert dedicated the work to Schuppanzigh
Ignaz Schuppanzigh
Ignaz Schuppanzigh November 20, 1776 – March 2, 1830, was a violinist, friend and teacher of Beethoven, and leader of Count Razumovsky's private string quartet. Schuppanzigh and his quartet premiered many of Beethoven's string quartets, and in particular, the late string quartets. The Razumovsky...
, who served as the first violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist of the string quartet appointed by Beethoven
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...
. Schuppanzigh himself played in the premiere performance which took place on 14 March 1824.
The quartet consists of four movements which last around 30 minutes in total.
- Allegro ma non troppo
- Andante
- Menuetto – Allegretto – Trio
- Allegro moderato
The first movement opens in a way reminiscent of the melancholic theme from one of Schubert's earliest songs, Gretchen am Spinnrade
Gretchen am Spinnrade
Gretchen am Spinnrade is a selection of text from Goethe's Faust. It was set by Schubert in 1814, Op.2, D 118, and was his first successful Lied...
. It is the second movement, however, which has lent the Quartet its nickname, being based on a theme from the incidental music for Rosamunde
Rosamunde
Rosamunde can refer to:* The German name for the Beer Barrel Polka* Music by Franz Schubert:**Rosamunde incidental music**Rosamunde String Quartet **Impromptu in B flat major, Op. 142 No. 3...
(a similar theme appears in the Impromptu in B-flat written three years later). The minuet is inspired by the melody of another song by Schubert, Die Götter Griechenlands, D. 677.