Peter Hänsel

Peter Hänsel (1770-1831)

Nationality: German
Born: November 29, 1770, Leppe Died: September 18, 1831, Vienna (age 60)

String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 37

(for 2 violins, viola and cello)
I. Allegro
II. Andante poco Adagio
III. Scherzo. Allegro - Trio
IV. Vivace
Published: (?) 1828 (age 57-58)
Dedication: J. A. Matzal
From Edition Silvertrust

Peter Hänsel Peter Hänsel (1770-1831) (sometimes spelled Haensel), was born in the town Leppe in what was then Prussian Silesia. He was trained as a violinist and worked in Warsaw and St. Petersburg before obtaining employment in Vienna where he studied composition with Haydn during the 1790’s. Other than two years he spent in Paris during 1802-1803, his entire life was spent in Vienna, working as a violinist and composer. He devoted himself almost exclusively to the genre of chamber music, writing nearly 60 string quartets, 6 string trios, 5 string quintets and works for several other small ensembles. His style remained firmly rooted in the classical era and is closely related to that of his teacher Haydn but he also introduced French and Polish elements into his works, the result of his sojourning in those lands.

His String Quartet in B flat Major, Op.37 dates from 1828 and is one of the last ones he composed. Hänsel’s style remained fairly consistent throughout his lifetime and despite the date of the composition, he remained true to late Vienna Classical Style which he learned from Haydn. The opening Allegro is an appealing Haydnesque affair, lively and jovial. The second movement, Andante poco adagio, is stately, noble and lyrical. In third place is a playful Scherzo, allegro which clearly shows the influence of Haydn with its use of rhythm. A lyrical and slower trio follows. The finale, Vivace, with its use of triplets, calls to mind a steeple chase or bumptious ride over the country side.

© Edition Silvertrust. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Related Composers

1800 Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Peter Hänsel (1770-1831) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Teacher
Nationality: Austrian
Born: March 31, 1732, Rohrau, Austria Died: May 31, 1809, Vienna (age 77)