Émile Ratez (1851-1934)

Nationality: French

Born: November 5, 1851, Besançon Died: May 19, 1934, Lille (age 82)

wikipedia | imslp

String Quartet in A major, Op. 20

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Moderato assai, quasi maestoso - Beaucoup plus vite
		II.	Presto
		III.	Tristamente
		IV.	Final. Allegro

Published: c. 1892 (age 40-41)

glossary

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
assai—very much. Intensifies the direction of its neighboring words, e.g. "allegro assai", very fast
beaucoup [F]—much
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
maestoso—With dignity and nobility; majestic
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
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
plus [F]—more
presto—very fast, more so than allegro.
quasi—almost, almost like, as if
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.
tristo [I], triste [F], tristement, tristezza [I]—sad; sadly; sadness
vite [F], vitement, vistesse—Fast. Rapid.