Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791

String Quartet in d minor, K. 421, 2nd of the “Haydn” Quartets, 1783

In the summer of 1783, Mozart completed his second string quartet in the series of six that he ultimately dedicated to Haydn. They were Mozart’s greatest in the genre, arguably the greatest quartets by any composer up to that time. The set is noteworthy for its breadth and diversity of technical means and expressive effects. Each quartet is unique and distinct in form and character. The second Quartet, K. 421 in d minor, owes its individuality to its tonality: it is the only one in a minor key. Composers of the era typically published a set of quartets as a single opus, commonly featuring at least one in a minor key. « more »