Beethoven's six "late" string quartets were composed between 1825 and 1826. They are the last major compositions he completed before his death in 1827.
The Quartets are as follows:
String Quartet 12 - Op 127
String Quartet 13 - Op 130
String Quartet 14 - Op 131
String Quartet 15 - Op 132
Grosse Fugue - Op 133
String Quartet 16 - Op 135
Three of the late quartets were commissioned by Prince Nikolai Galitzin (composed in the order 12, 15, 13 with the Grosse Fugue being the finale of number 13, later to be replaced by an easier and shorter alternate finale).
Following the "Galitzin" quartets were Quartet 14, and Quartet 16, both of which were only premiered after Beethoven's death in 1827.
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| PRINCE GALITZIN |
Beethoven would explore completely new musical worlds in his late quartets.
String Quartet 12 is in the standard four movement form but with a lengthy 2nd movement presenting a theme and six variations.
String Quartet 13 is a six movement work featuring an intensely beautiful 5th movement Cavatina.
String Quartet 14 is a cyclical seven movement work in which every section is interrelated in so many complicated ways that entire books have been dedicated to its analysis. It is widely regarded as the most perfect work ever composed.
String Quartet 15 is a five movement composition featuring a massive Heiliger Dankgesang (Holy Song of Thanksgiving) in the center of the work, composed after Beethoven's recovery from illness.
The Grosse Fugue (Great Fugue) was originally intended to be the final movement of String Quartet 13. Because of its length and complexity, Beethoven was persuaded to publish the fugue as a stand alone composition and compose a different finale for String Quartet 13.
String Quartet 16 was the final major work completed by Beethoven (other than the new finale to String Quartet 13). This quartet returns to the four movement structure.
VIDEO WALKTHROUGHS
VIDEO WALKTHROUGHS
String Quartet 13 "Galitzin 3"
String Quartet 15 "Galitzin 2"
Grosse Fugue
String Quartet 16
