Alexander Alyabyev (1787-1851)

Nationality: Russian

Born: August 15, 1787, Tobolsk Died: March 6, 1851, Moscow (age 63)

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String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Allegro con spirito
		II.	Adagio
		III.	Minuet. Allegro
		IV.	Finale. Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivace

Composed: 1815 (age 27-28)

Published: 1952

glossary

adagio [It]—slow tempo, often implying a lyrical, poignant character
allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andante [I]—moderately slow tempo (e.g. walking). Faster than adagio but slower than allegretto
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
finale [I], final [F]—The final movement, sometimes explicitly titled thus
minuet, menuet [F], Menuett [G], menuetto [I], minuetto [I]—A graceful, courtly French dance of the Baroque and Classical period with a triple meter and a moderate tempo.It was introduced at the court of Louis XIV. In classical forms such as the symphony or chamber music, the minuet evolved into the more vigorous scherzo.
quartet, quatuor [F], quartett [G], quartetto [I], cuarteto [S]—ensemble or work for four players the most important examples being the string quartet and the piano quartet
sostenuto [I], soutenu [F]—sustained, perhaps a bit slow
spirito, con spirito, spiritoso, spirituoso—Spirited, lively
string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S]—an ensemble as well as music written for that ensemble comprising 2 violins, viola and cello. This is one of the essential genres / forms / ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical "core" of "classical" music.
Explore the string quartet.
vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro