Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792)

Nationality: German | Swedish

Born: June 20, 1756, Miltenberg am Main Died: December 15, 1792, Stockholm (age 36)

wikipedia | imslp

String Quartet in c minor, VB2. 179

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

		I.	Largo
		II.	Andantino - Allegro - Tempo primo

Duration: 8 minutes (approximately)

Student

Nationality: Moravian | Czech

Born: December 30, 1756, Nová Říše, Moravia Died: September 29, 1808, Vienna (age 51)

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
andantino—faster than andante, slower than allegretto. Sometimes andantino is interpreted as the opposite: slower than andante
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
largo—slow, solemn, sustained.slower than lento. faster than grave
prima [I], primo—first; often used to designate a part or a return the "first" part as in "come prima", i.e. "like the first part" or "like the beginning"
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.
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.