Charles Loeffler (1861-1935)

Nationality: German | American

Born: January 30, 1861, Schöneberg Died: May 19, 1935, Medfield, MA (age 74)

wikipedia | imslp

String Quartet in a minor

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

7:48	I.	Allegro moderato
4:51	II.	Tempo di minuetto
6:30	III.	Andante assai, con quasi variazioni
6:59	IV.	Allegro, rondo pastorale

Duration: 27 minutes (approximately)

Composed: 1889 (age 27-28)

Related Composers

Joseph Joachim (1831-1907)

Teacher

Nationality: Hungarian | Austrian

Born: June 28, 1831, Kitsee Died: August 15, 1907, Berlin (age 76)

Friedrich Kiel (1821-1885)

Teacher

Nationality: German

Born: October 8, 1821, Bad Laasphe, Puderbach Died: September 14, 1885, Berlin (age 63)

Woldemar Bargiel (1828-1897)

Teacher

Nationality: German

Born: October 3, 1828, Berlin Died: February 23, 1897, Berlin (age 68)

Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931)

Friend/Colleague

Nationality: Belgian

Born: July 16, 1858, Liège Died: May 12, 1931, Brussels (age 72)

glossary

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
assai—very much. Intensifies the direction of its neighboring words, e.g. "allegro assai", very fast
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
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.
moderato [I], moderamente, modéré [F], modérément [F]—moderately, at a moderate tempo, applying a touch of restraint to its related word(s), e.g. allegro moderato
pastorale, pastoral—referring to the bucolic setting of shepherds, the countryside and an idealized relationship to nature
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
quasi—almost, almost like, as if
rondo—sectional movement form featuring a recurring refrain between contrasting episodes in a variety of plans, a typical one being ABACABA (A is the refrain; B and C are episodes). Often used for finales.
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.
tema con variazioni, con variazioni, Tema e variazioni, theme and variations, Thema mit Variationen [G], Thème varié [F]—a common movement form featuring an initial theme followed by a series of variations on that theme, each of which adjusts any number of parameters to achieve variety, e.g. tempo, rhythm, key, instrumentation, etc.A challenge to the composers ingenuity and a delight for the listener
tempo, tempi [pl]—speed or pace at which music progresses. Traditional classic music typically uses standard Italian words to designate the tempo, e.g. Allegro or adagio. Metronome markings provide precise numerical speeds. Tempo selection during performance is a complex artistic choice informed by composer's markings, performance tradition, technical limitations and interpretation.
variation, variazione, variatio, variato, variata—a modified re-iteration of a previous theme, reprise, couplet, etc. The music is varied, embellished or creatively transformed for variety while maintaining a unity relationship with the original. See "Theme and Variations."