Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838)

Nationality: German

Baptized: November 28, 1784, Bonn Died: January 13, 1838, Frankfurt (age 53)

wikipedia | imslp | ferdinand-ries.de

String Quartet in c minor, Op. 150, No. 2

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Allegro
		II.	Andante con variazioni, cantabile
		III.	Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. Poco meno vivace
		IV.	Finale. Allegro agitato

Duration: 28 minutes (approximately)

Composed: 1826 (age 41-42)

Published: c. 1829 (age 44-45)

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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

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Nationality: German

Baptized: December 17, 1770, Bonn Died: March 26, 1827, Vienna (age 56)

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Bernhard Romberg (1767-1841)

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glossary

agitato, agité [F]—agitated, restless, excited
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
cantabile, cantate, cantando—singing, lyrical, flowing
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
meno—less
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
poco, un poco, poco a poco—a little bit, e.g. "andante un poco moto" is andante with a little more motion than typical. "poco a poco" means a little bit at a time, gradually.
scherzo—lively, brisk, typically in a triple meter; usually a three-part form with central, contrasting trio
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
trio (2)—The middle section of three-part (ternary) forms such as the minuet and scherzo yielding the structure: Minuet - Trio - Minuet (repeat). The trio often brings contrast by change of key, tempo, mood or texture i.e. a shift in instrumental scoring.
vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro