Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) not only produced a continuous stream of compositions in every musical genre, he brought to his creations an originality, inventiveness and craftsmanship that earned them a place in the first rank of musical compositions.
His genius found an especially felicitous outlet in the string quartet, whose four-movement structure Haydn practically invented. Otto Jahn wrote: It is not often that a composer hits so exactly upon the form suited to his compositions; the quartet was Haydn’s natural mode of expressing his feelings.
Over a period of 50 years, Haydn composed some 80 string quartets (the exact number is still in question), whose range and variety of structural invention rank second only to those of Beethoven. In this volume the composer’s mastery of the form is strikingly evident, particularly in the six popular and much-recorded “Prussian Quartets,” composed for the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II.
This volume contains the full scores of:
Op. 42, in D minor (composed 1785)Large, readable noteheads, ample margins for notations, opaque paper and permanent binding make this a fundamental addition to music libraries and musicians’ repertories; a book for all who pay tribute to Haydn and who agree with GROVE’S DICTIONARY: The quartet he. . . brought to perfection.
Op. 50, Nos. 1-6 (“Prussian Quartets,” composed 1787 and dedicated to Friedrich Wilhelm II, King of Prussia)
Op. 54, Nos. 1-3 (First set of “Tost Quartets,” composed ca. 1788 and dedicated to the merchant Johann Tost)
Unabridged Dover (1982) republication of ten separate quartet volumes (Op. 42; Op. 50, Nos. 1-6; and Op. 54, Nos. 1-3) as published by Ernst Eulenburg Ltd., London (n.d.; publication numbers 154, 167, 168, 169, 112, 155, 156, 54, 66 and 113, respectively, of the Edition Eulenburg, or Eulenburg Miniature Scores). viii + 224pp. 8 3/8 x 11 1/4. Paperbound.
Copyright © 1998, MIDI Classics®, Revised 6/21/98