Józef Elsner (1769-1854)

Nationality: Polish | Silesian | German

Born: June 1, 1769, Grodków [Grottkau], Silesia Died: April 18, 1854, Warsaw (age 84)

wikipedia | imslp

String Quartet in C major, Op. 8, No. 1

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

10:13		I.	Allegro moderato
9:37		II.	Tema con variazioni. Andantino

Duration: 20 minutes (approximately)

Published: 1806 (age 36-37)

1 recording, 2 videos

autoopen autoplay

10:13

Hoffmeister Quartet

I. Allegro moderato

9:37

Hoffmeister Quartet

II. Tema con variazioni. Andantino

Related Composers

Ignacy Dobrzyński (1807-1867)

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Born: February 15, 1807, Romanów, Volhynia Died: October 9, 1867, Warsaw (age 60)

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

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Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872)

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E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822)

colleague

Nationality: German

Born: January 24, 1776, Königsberg Died: June 25, 1822, Berlin (age 46)

glossary

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
con [I,S]—with
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
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
variation, variazione, variatio, variato, variata—a modified re-iteration of a previous theme, reprise, couplet, etc. The music is varied, embellished or creatively transformed for variety while maintaining a unity relationship with the original. See "Theme and Variations."