Frederick Converse (1871-1940)

Nationality: American

Born: January 5, 1871, Newton, MA Died: June 8, 1940, Westwood, MA (age 69)

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String Quartet No. 2 in a minor, Op. 18

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Largamente - Molto vivace
		II.	Adagio - Andante con moto, ma un poco largamente
		III.	Allegro con fuoco, ma giocoso

Composed: 1904 (age 32-33)

Related Composers

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Student

Nationality: American

Born: April 9, 1887, Little Rock, AR Died: June 3, 1953, Chicago (age 66)

glossary

adagio [It]—slow tempo, often implying a lyrical, poignant character
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
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
fuoco, con fuoco, avec feu [Fr], mit Feuer [G], feurig [G]—fire, fiery; passionately, burning energy and excitement; impetuously
giocoso, giocando, con gioco, giojoso—humorous, jocose, merry joking
largamente [I], con larghezza [I], large [F], largement [F]—broad, full, slow
ma—but, however
molto [It]—very much
moto, con moto, di moto—motion, with motion. Somewhat more lively than its context would suggest, e.g. "andante con moto", a little more lively than andante
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.
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.
vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro