Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Nationality:
English
Born: November 22, 1913, Lowestoft Died: December 4, 1976, Aldeburgh (age 63)
String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 25
(for 2 violins, viola and cello)
| 8:50 | I. | Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo | |
| 3:01 | II. | Allegretto con slancio | |
| 10:27 | III. | Andante calmo | |
| 3:57 | IV. | Molto vivace |
Duration: 27 minutes (approximately)
Composed:
1941 (age 27-28)
Commission: Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
Premiere:
September 21, 1941. Los Angeles, CA. Occidental College. Coolidge Quartet
7 recordings,
28 videos
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autoplay
8:19
Escher Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
3:00
Escher Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
10:27
Escher Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
3:54
Escher Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
8:44
Alberni String Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
2:49
Alberni String Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
10:13
Alberni String Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
3:56
Alberni String Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
9:12
Britten Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
2:59
Britten Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
12:05
Britten Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
4:00
Britten Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
8:48
Endellion String Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
3:00
Endellion String Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
10:06
Endellion String Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
3:54
Endellion String Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
10:10
Maggini Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
3:19
Maggini Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
10:51
Maggini Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
4:30
Maggini Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
7:11
Galimir String Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
3:08
Galimir String Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
7:39
Galimir String Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
3:37
Galimir String Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
9:09
Brodsky String Quartet
I.
Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo
2:58
Brodsky String Quartet
II.
Allegretto con slancio
10:50
Brodsky String Quartet
III.
Andante calmo
3:52
Brodsky String Quartet
IV.
Molto vivace
Related Composers
Arthur Benjamin (1893-1960)
Teacher
Nationality:
Australian
Born: September 18, 1893, Sydney Died: April 10, 1960, London (age 66)
Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
Teacher
Nationality:
English
Born: February 26, 1879, Brighton Died: January 10, 1941, Eastbourne (age 61)
John Ireland (1879-1962)
Teacher
Nationality:
English
Born: August 13, 1879, Bowdon, Cheshire Died: June 12, 1962, Rock Mill, Washington, Sussex (age 82)
Michael Tippett (1905-1998)
Friend/Colleague
Nationality:
English
Born: January 2, 1905, London Died: January 8, 1998, London (age 93)
glossary
- allegretto—moderately quick tempo. slower than allegro but faster than andante
- 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
- calmo [I], calmato, calme [F]—calm, tranquil, quiet, still
- 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
- con [I,S]—with
- molto [It]—very much
- opus [L], opera[pl], Op., Opp, WoO, Op. posth—work, as in a work of art. For unique identification, publishers/composers often assign an "opus number", abbreviated as "Op." (e.g. Op. 1). A range of works by opus number, uses the plural "opp." (e.g. "Opp. 1-3"). A single opus number may refer to a collection of works (e.g. a set of quartets) giving rise to designations like "Op. 1, No. 4". For misc. works without opus numbers, "WoO" is often used (e.g."Without Opus"). Posthumously assigned numbers may use "Op. posth". Opus numbers may not precisely reflect chronology (publication vs. composition), can be erroneous, sparse or duplicative. Thus, the works of some historically important composers may use separate catalog numbers (e.g. Bach, Haydn, Schubert). See wiki
- 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
- slancio, slanciante—impetuous, impulsive
- sostenuto [I], soutenu [F]—sustained, perhaps a bit slow
-
string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S], vonósnégyes [H]—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
- vivo—lively, intense