The string quartets of Beethoven are among the greatest works of their kind, but he composed other works for quartet which have been neglected. This album is dedicated to these intriguing rarities. Alongside the wild and monumental Grosse Fuge, in many ways the culmination of Beethoven’s achievements in the string quartet genre, this recording further displays his mastery of counterpoint by bringing to light brilliant yet forgotten original versions of his quartets Op. 18, No. 1 and Op. 131, plus six virtually unknown miniatures, including his Preludes and Fugues.
Beethoven, Ludwig van
String Quartet in F major, Hess 32 (1st version of String Quartet No. 1, Op. 18, No. 1)
1 I. Allegro con brio 10:19
2 II. Adagio molto 09:32
3 III. Scherzo: Allegro 03:46
4 IV. Allegretto 06:46
String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: I. Adagio espressivo (early version)
5 String Quartet No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131: I. Adagio espressivo (early version) 06:04
Prelude and Fugue in F Major, Hess 30
6 Prelude and Fugue in F Major, Hess 30 06:28
Allegretto in B Minor, WoO 210
7 Allegretto in B Minor, WoO 210 00:34
Prelude and Fugue in C Major, Hess 31
8 Prelude and Fugue in C Major, Hess 31 04:44
Fugue in D Minor, Hess 245 (fragment)
9 Fugue in D Minor, Hess 245 (fragment) 00:40
Handel, George Frideric
Beethoven, Ludwig van - Arranger
Solomon, HWV 67, Part I: Overture: Fugue (arr. L. van Beethoven for string quartet, Hess 36)
10 Solomon, HWV 67, Part I: Overture: Fugue (arr. L. van Beethoven for string quartet, Hess 36) 02:11
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Menuett in A-Flat Major, WoO 209, Hess 33
11 Menuett in A-Flat Major, WoO 209, Hess 33 02:05
Grosse Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133
12 Grosse Fuge in B-Flat Major, Op. 133 16:42
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