String Quintet, Op. 104 (Beethoven) Explained

The String Quintet in C minor, Op. 104, written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1817, performed on 10 December 1818, and published in 1819, is an arrangement of the early C minor Piano Trio, Op. 1 No. 3.^[1] This work is scored for a string quintet with two violas.

The work is referenced in Vikram Seth's 1999 novel An Equal Music.

Structure

The work is structured in four movements:

1. Allegro con brio (C minor)
2. Andante cantabile con Variazioni (E-flat major)
3. Minuetto. Quasi allegro (C minor, with a trio in C major)
4. Finale. Prestissimo (C minor, with a tierce de picardie)

References

Notes

Sources

• Book: Kurth, Sabine. Ludwig van Beethoven, Streichquintette (String Quintets). 2002. G. Henle Verlag.
• Web site: Liner Notes to Beethoven: Music for String Quintet, Naxos 8.572221. Short. Anthony. 2010. Naxos Records. 2014-03-14.
• Web site: Liner Notes to Beethoven: Piano Quartet & String Quintet, CDA67745. Wigmore. Richard. 2009. Hyperion Records. 2014-03-10.

Notes and References

1. http://www.beethoven-haus-bonn.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=&template=werkseite_digitales_archiv_en&_eid=&_ug=&_werkid=105&_mid=Works%20by%20Ludwig%20van%20Beethoven&suchparameter=werkidx:x:x105&_seite=1&_sucheinstieg=werksuche beethoven-haus-bonn.de article