Much is made of the Opus 76 with its German national anthem. But there are other of his quartet cycles that equally represent the master at the height of his powers, e.g. this Opus 71.
Listening to the opus 71, 74, 76, and 77 quartets makes me bored by all but selected movements from earlier ones, even most of the Prussian and Tost. I have almost no patience for any written before the 1780s. All these opus 70s were composed after Mozart died. I think they equal or exceed Mozart's quartets in some ways. Too bad he never heard them. One wonders what he may have been inspired to compose, and then how that may have influenced Haydn - although I somehow hate to think any of these might have been different or not at all!
I think Mozart - had he lived - would have developed the string quintet further (rather than the quartet), there were already signs of this towards the end of his life; the five instruments suited better the particular density of his musical thought. In contrast, the string quartet suited Haydn and Beethoven better, indeed both composers took the form to pinnacles never really surpassed, and only occasionally equalled.
14:15 Love when the cello gets a chance to play with the melody at measure 73.
Man that second movement has some really cool changes
Much is made of the Opus 76 with its German national anthem. But there are other of his quartet cycles that equally represent the master at the height of his powers, e.g. this Opus 71.
William Perry
Opus 71 and Opus 74 is actually one complete set of six quartets.
And the opus 77s are outstanding!
19:23 sublime :)
Listening to the opus 71, 74, 76, and 77 quartets makes me bored by all but selected movements from earlier ones, even most of the Prussian and Tost. I have almost no patience for any written before the 1780s.
All these opus 70s were composed after Mozart died. I think they equal or exceed Mozart's quartets in some ways. Too bad he never heard them. One wonders what he may have been inspired to compose, and then how that may have influenced Haydn - although I somehow hate to think any of these might have been different or not at all!
I think Mozart - had he lived - would have developed the string quintet further (rather than the quartet), there were already signs of this towards the end of his life; the five instruments suited better the particular density of his musical thought.
In contrast, the string quartet suited Haydn and Beethoven better, indeed both composers took the form to pinnacles never really surpassed, and only occasionally equalled.