Here I was thinking I didn't really care that much for chamber music- string quartets especially, and then I hear this. I wouldn't have even sought this out either, if I hadn't heard an intellectual whom I admire greatly, Richard Dawkins, mention being so deeply moved by a Schubert quartet. So I thought I'd better listen again, and listen more carefully; pay attention this time. Lo and behold, I seem to have gotten myself tuned in at last, and now I think of this as a beautiful musical tapestry of patterns and ideas that all seem to follow some unspeakable logic. A logic that seems elusive yet fulfilling as it is attained.
Keep the comments coming, as Schubert is timeless, and "Quartettsatz" a hallmark of expression even in his marvellous output. And the Amadeus nailed it.
Splendid performance of a piece played too seldom. Martin Lovett, still alive at age 91 and the only member of the Amadeus Quartet still with us, is simply the best cellist to have been born in 1927.
Amadeus quartet gives memorable performance of one of the supreme chamber work masterpieces of Schubert's final years.He played quartets at home and in an orchestra as teenager, but this Quartettsatz #12 is the beginning of a new stage of supreme mastery both of plolyphony and instrumental virtuosity- he must have had gifted musicians to perform in 1820s quartets 12-15, string quintet op. 163 in C, piano trios op. 99-100. Also rondos + sonatinas
D 703 is often played too dramatically in modern times so it is marvelous to have great, 'straight', performance from 1977 by the top Schubert ensemble of then and probably any time. The drama and danger in the piece is on the page, by Schubert, and needs no adjustment. In any case all parts, especially that for 1st violin, are demanding on the musicians and showing off equates to departing from the supreme balance of the prophetic music. While the line of violin 1 is to be melodic and even have dance elements, the other three instruments are building distant then closer danger and unease. Schubert was not so corny as to have a battle or fracas actually in the piece but by the last few bars violin has 'accepted the consensus and an atmosphere of apprehension is not ended but the piece is by a conventional conclusion. The spring of tension is wound to maximum when the work stops and this is the genius of Schubert at his height. In context, the Napoleonic Wars were nominally over and France had been militarily defeated -- for a while. As the 19th century proceeded most European countries and the young USA saw complex and bloody troubles of manifold types beyond just political struggles. Changes in technology to industrialization were bewildering, faiths and power balances were questioned and human thinking bid farewell to the elegant abstract debate of pure reason to become more stark, realistic and often nationalistic too. This music is already deep into what was later called 'Romanticism' and this had evolved from late Beethoven. Schubert, the great song writer, is here all muscle, sinew and prophetic of what would come from what was in the air of central Europe in the late 1820s.
Ohne das Amadeus Quartet als Idole meiner Kindheit und Jugend wäre ich nie Berufsmusiker geworden. Danke!
Quel lyrisme Norbert..!!!
Le BEAU CHANT.!
Merveilleux...! 🤩
A single , great string quartet movement is so good that it has no problem "standing structurally" by itself.......
I never get tired of this piece. The harmonies are just incredible. A number of years ago this music was used for a Cuisinart food processor ad!
Amadeus Quartet's performances of Schubert are all amazing.
Es ist ein großer Genuss für die Ohren , das zu hören!
Here I was thinking I didn't really care that much for chamber music- string quartets especially, and then I hear this. I wouldn't have even sought this out either, if I hadn't heard an intellectual whom I admire greatly, Richard Dawkins, mention being so deeply moved by a Schubert quartet. So I thought I'd better listen again, and listen more carefully; pay attention this time. Lo and behold, I seem to have gotten myself tuned in at last, and now I think of this as a beautiful musical tapestry of patterns and ideas that all seem to follow some unspeakable logic. A logic that seems elusive yet fulfilling as it is attained.
Keep the comments coming, as Schubert is timeless, and "Quartettsatz" a hallmark of expression even in his marvellous output. And the Amadeus nailed it.
D'une telle beauté...
Splendid performance of a piece played too seldom. Martin Lovett, still alive at age 91 and the only member of the Amadeus Quartet still with us, is simply the best cellist to have been born in 1927.
Superb!
PARA MI SCHUBERT AUN NO FUE DESCUBIERTO..ESUN MUSICO FENOMENAL.....
Impressively played
Amadeus quartet gives memorable performance of one of the supreme chamber work masterpieces of Schubert's final years.He played quartets at home and in an orchestra as teenager, but this Quartettsatz #12 is the beginning of a new stage of supreme mastery both of plolyphony and instrumental virtuosity- he must have had gifted musicians to perform in 1820s quartets 12-15, string quintet op. 163 in C, piano trios op. 99-100. Also rondos + sonatinas
it's amazing
Really inspiring music ~~~
D 703 is often played too dramatically in modern times so it is marvelous to have great, 'straight', performance from 1977 by the top Schubert ensemble of then and probably any time.
The drama and danger in the piece is on the page, by Schubert, and needs no adjustment. In any case all parts, especially that for 1st violin, are demanding on the musicians and showing off equates to departing from the supreme balance of the prophetic music.
While the line of violin 1 is to be melodic and even have dance elements, the other three instruments are building distant then closer danger and unease. Schubert was not so corny as to have a battle or fracas actually in the piece but by the last few bars violin has 'accepted the consensus and an atmosphere of apprehension is not ended but the piece is by a conventional conclusion.
The spring of tension is wound to maximum when the work stops and this is the genius of Schubert at his height.
In context, the Napoleonic Wars were nominally over and France had been militarily defeated -- for a while.
As the 19th century proceeded most European countries and the young USA saw complex and bloody troubles of manifold types beyond just political struggles. Changes in technology to industrialization were bewildering, faiths and power balances were questioned and human thinking bid farewell to the elegant abstract debate of pure reason to become more stark, realistic and often nationalistic too.
This music is already deep into what was later called 'Romanticism' and this had evolved from late Beethoven. Schubert, the great song writer, is here all muscle, sinew and prophetic of what would come from what was in the air of central Europe in the late 1820s.
The Barlow + Morganstern musical theme index seems to show the first theme of this movement in c minor, and the second theme in A flat major.
Yes, the flattened submediant
Norbert Brainin was a brilliant violinist and leader - studied with Carl Flesch and Max Rostal.
As did Nissel and Schidlof
first violin part is a killer
This piece doesn't appear in CD format as far as I can tell. Has anyone found it?
Yes. I found it on Emerson quartet's Late String Quartets by Schubert
ldskts
Thanks.
+Paul Kelley Yes - It is on Deutsche Grammophon 2532 071 Stereo (amazon)its the best version (in my opinion)
Does anybody find Mozart just too good to the extent that one doesn't find it easy to like, while Schubert is sublime?
I am not a fan of Mozart's music. I find it dull and formulaic. Schubert's music, on the other hand, is perfectly glorious!
What about the Prussian Quartets?
Vraiment sans parallèle...
Mind blowing. It you don’t find it mind blowing you don’t posses a mind.
Hmmm, well played
Bei Brainin ist alles gleich ob er Mozart,Haydn oder andere Musikstile spielt als ist immer mit diesem Extrem Vibrato..
Julliard String Quartet, 1960 performance:
watch?v=zNI8YAfgcWE
regards
Nee zip
Not as polished as the Julliard. In fact, out of synch sometimes. Disappointing.