Ludvig Norman's String Quartet in a minor, Op.65 is counted as his fifth string quartet and occasionally as his sixth. It was most likely his last, completed and published in 1884, the year before his death. His schooling at the Leipzig Conservatory is still on display as the work shows the influence of both Schumann and Mendelssohn, the models which were held up to all the students there at the time as worthy of studying. The big opening movement, Allegro agitato, has a broad sweep, and considerable forward energy as evidenced by several episodes of rushing passage work. A lovely, prayer-like Andante sostenuto e cantabile is a Mendelssohnian song without words. The Tempo di Menuetto which follows is a rather romantic take on the classical form. The finale, Allegro molto vivace, is for the most part upbeat and in the major.
Ludvig Norman (1831-1885) was born in Stockholm. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory shortly after it was founded by Mendelssohn. His composition teachers were Julius Rietz and Moritz Hauptmann, his piano professor was Ignaz Moscheles. A prolific composer, he also enjoyed a career as a pianist, conductor and teacher. Among his many pupils was the prominent composer Elfrida Andrée. Norman composed in a wide variety of genres, and chamber music was an important part of his oeuvre, among which there are two piano trios, a piano quartet, a piano sextet, five string quartets, a string quintet, a string sextet and a string octet.
