JOSEPH HAYDN

Eleven Late String Quartets Opp. 74, 76 and 77 Complete

Edited by Wilhelm Altmann

It was from Haydn that I first learned the true way to compose quartets.

— Mozart

Eleven Late String Quartets marks the first volume in a projected monumental under- taking— the complete Haydn string quartets. Players and students, music historians and Haydn lovers will have inexpensive access to a uniform, strongly bound and clearly printed modern edition of Haydn’s finest pieces in complete score.

Musicians, music students, and music publishers have a difficult time keeping up with Haydn, whose ceaseless production of original, first-rate work was legendary. He essayed most of the recognized genres, conferring upon several a legacy of expanded possibilities and clearly defined, characteristic form. Among these may be mentioned the symphony, the sonata, and perhaps most notably, the quartet.

In a period of 50 years, Haydn (1732—1809) composed over 80 string quartets. Scholars are still debating questions of attribution and even completeness (unknown works by Haydn still turn up) and music lovers have had to make do with scattered, out-of-date, out-of-print editions of a few of the more familiar quartets.

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. Haydn’s affinity to the quartet began with his earliest works, when he perhaps more than anyone established the 4-movement structure of chamber music. In common with truly great and complete artists, who surpass early innovation to achieve their greatest work at the end, Haydn’s last quartets are his best.

This volume contains the full scores of:

Op. 74, Nos. 1-3 (including The Horseman)—dedicated to Count Apponyi, 1793
Op. 76, Nos. 1-6 (including The Bell, The Donkey, Emperor, and Sunrise) — dedicated to Prince Erdödy, 1796-7
Op. 77, Nos. 1, 2 (including Wait till the clouds roll by) —dedicated to Prince von Lobkowitz, 1799

Large, readable noteheads, ample margins for fingerings, etc., opaque paper and per- manent 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 DIC- TIONARY: The quartet he. .. brought to perfection.

Unabridged Dover (1979) republication of eleven separate quartet volumes as published by Ernst Eulenburg Ltd., London, n.d. (publication numbers 146, 147, 58, 69, 10, 3, 56, 57, 191, 61 and 355 of the Edition Eulenburg or Eulenburg Miniature Scores). 320pp. 8 3/8 x 11 1/4. Paperbound.

ISBN 0—486—23753—2

I 90000 9780486237534

Home | Specials | Catalog | Authors H | Order Now

MIDI Classics
Box 311, Weatogue, CT 06089-0311 USA
Order: 800-787-6434
Fax: 860-651-4373
E-mail: mcsales@midi-classics.com

mcsales@midi-classics.com