Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1797

Average_duration

:

128:59

Movement_count

:

24

Movement ....

Franz Joseph Haydn's String Quartets (6), Op. 76, H. 3/75-80, were composed in 1797 and premiered in Vienna in the same year. The set of six quartets is considered one of Haydn's greatest achievements in the genre and is often referred to as the "Emperor" quartets due to the use of a hymn tune associated with the Austrian Emperor in the second movement of the second quartet. The six quartets are each comprised of four movements, with the exception of the fifth quartet, which has five movements. The first movement of each quartet is typically in sonata form, with a lively and energetic character. The second movement of each quartet is slower and more introspective, often featuring a lyrical melody. The third movement is usually a minuet or scherzo, with a playful and dance-like character. The final movement is typically a fast and lively finale, often featuring a fugue or other contrapuntal elements. One of the defining characteristics of the Op. 76 quartets is their use of humor and wit, particularly in the scherzo movements. Haydn was known for his playful and inventive approach to composition, and this is evident throughout the set. Another notable characteristic is the use of unusual harmonic progressions and unexpected modulations, which add to the sense of surprise and unpredictability in the music. Overall, the Op. 76 quartets represent a culmination of Haydn's development as a composer of string quartets, and they continue to be widely performed and admired today.

More....