Louis Spohr (1784-1859)

Nationality: German

Born: April 5, 1784, Brunswick Died: October 22, 1859, Kassel (age 75)

wikipedia | imslp

String Quartet No. 8 in C major, Op. 29, No. 2

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)

9:29	I.	Allegro
8:34	II.	Adagio
2:24	III.	Menuetto. Un poco Allegretto - Trio
6:46	IV.	Finale

Duration: 28 minutes (approximately)

Composed: 1813-1815 (age 28-31)

Published: 1815 (age 30-31)

Dedication: À son ami Andreas Romberg

1 recording, 4 videos

autoopen autoplay

9:29

New Budapest Quartet

I. Allegro

8:34

New Budapest Quartet

II. Adagio

2:24

New Budapest Quartet

III. Menuetto. Un poco Allegretto - Trio

6:46

New Budapest Quartet

IV. Finale

Related Composers

Fredrik Pacius (1809-1891)

Student

Nationality: Finnish | German

Born: March 19, 1809, Hamburg Died: January 8, 1891, Helsinki (age 81)

Ferdinand David (1810-1873)

Student

Nationality: German

Born: June 19, 1810, Hamburg Died: July 18, 1873, Klosters, Switzerland (age 63)

Bernhard Molique (1802-1869)

Student

Nationality: German

Born: October 7, 1802, Nuremberg Died: May 10, 1869, Cannstatt (age 66)

glossary

adagio [It]—slow tempo, often implying a lyrical, poignant character
allegretto—moderately quick tempo. slower than allegro but faster than andante
allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
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
minuet, menuet [F], Menuett [G], menuetto [I], minuetto [I]—A graceful, courtly French dance of the Baroque and Classical period with a triple meter and a moderate tempo.It was introduced at the court of Louis XIV. In classical forms such as the symphony or chamber music, the minuet evolved into the more vigorous scherzo.
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.
quartet, quatuor [F], quartett [G], quartetto [I], cuarteto [S]—ensemble or work for four players the most important examples being the string quartet and the piano quartet
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.
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.