Scores & Links
IMSLP (score)
Theodor Kirchner (1823-1903)
Nationality:
German
Born: December 10, 1823, Neukirchen Died: September 18, 1903, Hamburg (age 79)
String Quartet in G major, Op. 20
(for 2 violins, viola and cello)
| I. | Allegro ma non troppo | ||
| II. | Adagio | ||
| III. | Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio | ||
| IV. | Finale. Allegro |
Published:
1874 (age 50-51)
glossary
- adagio [It]—slow tempo, often implying a lyrical, poignant character
- 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
- ma—but, however
- non—not, no
- 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
- 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
- scherzo—lively, brisk, typically in a triple meter; usually a three-part form with central, contrasting trio
- string quartet, Streichquartett [G], quatuor à cordes [F], quartetto d'archi [I], quartetto di cordi [I], cuarteto de cuerda [S], vonósnégyes [H]—ensemble or a work 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 | wiki
- 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.
- troppo [I], non troppo, trop [F]—too, too much. non troppo means "not too much". e.g. "Allegro ma non troppo" means fast, but not too much
- vivace—brisk, lively tempo faster than allegro