Beethoven String Quartet 1

In 1801, Beethoven published his first six string quartets. Collectively, the six Opus 18 Quartets were commissioned by one of Beethoven's greatest royal patrons, Prince Lobkowitz. The set of chamber music was well received in Vienna and gave Beethoven the confidence to attempt composing what would become his first symphony.

JOSEPH FRANZ MAXIMILIAN VON LOBKOWITZ

String Quartet 1 was actually the second of the six quartets composed. Beethoven chose to bookend the set with his two most radical and forward looking quartets. He therefore began the set with with the F Major quartet (numbered 1st) and end with the Bb Major quartet (numbered 6th).

The first movement of the quartet develops a short musical motif played in unison at the very beginning of the movement. The second movement is said to be inspired by the final scene in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In the third movement, Beethoven replaces the traditional minuet with a scherzo. The fourth movement is a fun sonata rondo.

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