Huma 1102 Concert Report
Thesis statement: “This report will simply discuss how Ludwig van Beethoven integrated old and new musical ideas into his work, thus creating an unconventional but transcendent and influential quartet, based on the String Quartet No.9 in C, Op. 59, No.3 “Razumovsky” performed on the concert.”
On 22nd Nov, Shanghai Quartet, one of the world’s foremost chamber ensembles, performed two musical works. They are Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No.9 in C, Op. 59, No.3 “Razumovsky ” and Antonin Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No.2 in A, B. 155, Op.82. In this report, I will focus on discussing Beethoven’s work.
1Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic period in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential icon for all composers. His best-known compositions include 9symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets.
2The String Quartet No.9 in C, Op. 59, No.3 “Razumovsky” was written in around 1805-1806, when Beethoven was aged 35 and was at the height of his productivity. It is called the 'Razumovsky' quartets because it is commissioned by a Russian count of that name, who was the Tzar's ambassador in Vienna, a keen amateur violinist and a confirmed music lover. The quartet consists of the following four movements:
1. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace (C major)
2. Andante con moto quasi allegretto (A minor)
3. Menuetto (Grazioso) (C major)
4. Allegro molto (C major)
I will focus on discussing how Beethoven integrated old and new ideas into the second, third and final movements
The second movement brings us to an unconventional territory. Beethoven tried something radical and that is an entire Russian movement. The 'exotic' flavor of this movement is easy enough to hear in the augmented second intervals of the opening violin melody, the frequent pizzicato accompaniment of the cello in which as if it imitates a 'folk' instrument such as
On 22nd Nov, Shanghai Quartet, one of the world’s foremost chamber ensembles, performed two musical works. They are Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No.9 in C, Op. 59, No.3 “Razumovsky ” and Antonin Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No.2 in A, B. 155, Op.82. In this report, I will focus on discussing Beethoven’s work.
1Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic period in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential icon for all composers. His best-known compositions include 9symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets.
2The String Quartet No.9 in C, Op. 59, No.3 “Razumovsky” was written in around 1805-1806, when Beethoven was aged 35 and was at the height of his productivity. It is called the 'Razumovsky' quartets because it is commissioned by a Russian count of that name, who was the Tzar's ambassador in Vienna, a keen amateur violinist and a confirmed music lover. The quartet consists of the following four movements:
1. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace (C major)
2. Andante con moto quasi allegretto (A minor)
3. Menuetto (Grazioso) (C major)
4. Allegro molto (C major)
I will focus on discussing how Beethoven integrated old and new ideas into the second, third and final movements
The second movement brings us to an unconventional territory. Beethoven tried something radical and that is an entire Russian movement. The 'exotic' flavor of this movement is easy enough to hear in the augmented second intervals of the opening violin melody, the frequent pizzicato accompaniment of the cello in which as if it imitates a 'folk' instrument such as