Conradin Kreutzer’s Quartet for Piano and Strings was published by the Viennese firm of Steiner in 1834 and was composed perhaps a year or two before that. There is a striking resemblance to the style of Beethoven in his earlier years. Kreutzer knew and was on friendly terms with Beethoven and without doubt was familiar with Beethoven's work in this genre. In three movements, the Quartet begins with a forceful Allegro risoluto. The middle movement, Andante grazioso, is quite lyrical and showcases Kreutzer's gift for melody. The finale, another Allegro risoluto, recalls the first movement in mood.
Conradin Kreutzer (1780-1849) was born in the German town of Messkirch. He studied violin, clarinet, oboe, organ and piano as well voice as a young man. After briefly studying law in Freiburg, he went to Vienna where he studied composition with Albrechtsberger, one of Beethoven’s teachers. He enjoyed a career as a composers and music director holding posts in Vienna, Stuttgart, Cologne and a number of other German cities. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is for his opera Der Nachtlager von Granada. However, in his time, his chamber music was highly thought of and often performed. He was a gifted melodist and his style is that of the late classical and early romantic era and in many ways resembles that of Carl Maria von Weber.