Product Overview
Beethoven - String Quartet Op. 130 In B-Flat Major; Grosse Fuge Op. 133, In B-Flat Major - Cleveland Quartet / Telarc Audio CD 1996 / CD-80422
UPC 089408042225
The String Quartet No. 13 in B♭ major, Op. 130, by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed (in its final form) in November 1826. The number traditionally assigned to it is based on the order of its publication; it is actually Beethoven's 14th quartet in order of composition. It was premiered (in its original form) in March 1826 by the Schuppanzigh Quartet and dedicated to Nikolai Galitzin on its publication in 1827.
The Grosse Fuge (German spelling: Große Fuge, also known in English as the Great Fugue or Grand Fugue), Op. 133, is a single-movement composition for string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven. An immense double fugue, it was universally condemned by contemporary music critics. A reviewer writing for the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung in 1826 described the fugue as "incomprehensible, like Chinese" and "a confusion of Babel". However, critical opinion of the work has risen steadily since the early 20th century and it is now considered among Beethoven's greatest achievements. Igor Stravinsky described it as "an absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever."
The composition originally served as the final movement of Beethoven's Quartet No. 13 in B♭ major, Op. 130, written in 1825; but his publisher was concerned about the dismal commercial prospects of the piece and wanted Beethoven to replace the fugue with a new finale. Beethoven complied, and the Grosse Fuge was published as a separate work in 1827 as Op. 133. It was composed when Beethoven was nearly totally deaf, and is considered to be part of his set of late quartets. It was first performed in 1826, as the finale of the B♭ quartet, by the Schuppanzigh Quartet.
Music analysts and critics have described the Grosse Fuge as "inaccessible", "eccentric", "filled with paradoxes", and "Armageddon". Critic and musicologist Joseph Kerman calls it "the most problematic single work in Beethoven's output and ... doubtless in the entire literature of music", and violinist David Matthews describes it as "fiendishly difficult to play".
| Label: | Telarc – CD-80422 |
|---|---|
| Format: |
CD, Album
|
| Country: | US |
| Released: |
1996 |
| Genre: | Classical |
| Style: | Classical, Romantic |
Tracklist:
| Quartet In B-flat Major, Op. 130 |
| 1 | I. Adagio Ma Non Troppo; Allegro | 15:11 |
| 2 | II. Presto | 1:59 |
| 3 | III. Andante Con Moto Ma Non Troppo | 6:47 |
| 4 | IV. Alla Danza Tedesca: Allegro Assai | 3:52 |
| 5 | V. Cavatina: Adagio Molto Espressivo | 6:58 |
| 6 | VI. Finale: Allegro | 10:20 | |
| 7 | Grosse Fuge In B-flat Major, Op. 133 |
16:13 |
- Art Direction – Anilda Carrasquillo
- Cello – Paul Katz (2)
- Composed By – Ludwig van Beethoven
- Design – Anilda Carrasquillo, Susan Azzarello
- Edited By [Assistance] – Jeanne Velonis
- Engineer – Jack Renner, Thomas Knab
- Ensemble – The Cleveland Quartet
- Executive-Producer – Robert Woods (2)
- Liner Notes [English] – Steven Ledbetter
- Liner Notes [French] – Patricia Dussaux
- Liner Notes [German] – Gila Fox
- Photography By [Cover] – Andrew Russetti
- Producer, Edited By – Judith Sherman
- Supervised By [Production Supervisor] – Elaine Martone
- Viola – James Dunham
- Violin – Peter Salaff, William Preucil
