This week we focus on one of the most delightful and storied chapters of the string quartet’s history, centering around the works of three romantic composers—Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Brahms. After 50 years of fantastic string quartets from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, the well seemed to be drying up—young composers just weren’t writing string quartets. Operas and piano pieces, yes, but not string quartets, and then to save the day steps in Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Brahms! Bill starts the week off with the double quartet (octet) from 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn. Felix’s sister, Fanny Mendelssohn, said she felt that she was lightly carried up in the air with this string octet.
Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Brahms String Quartets
Playlist
Episode 1
Mendelssohn, Felix: Octet In E Flat For Strings, Op. 20, III
Guarneri String Quartet, Orion String Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartet No 3, Octet
Arab 6714
4:31
Mendelssohn, Felix: “Ist es wahr?” , Op. 9 No. 1
Baker, soprano; Parsons, piano
Liszt, Mendelssohn, Schumann: Lieder
EMI 573836
1:38
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet #2 In A Minor, Op. 13
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
15:27
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet #2 In A Minor, Op. 13
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
13:47
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 12, I & II
Quatuor Ysaÿe
Mendelssohn: String Quartets Opp. 12, 13, 80
London 436325
11:11
Episode 2
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No.3 in D Major, Op.44, III
Guarneri Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartet No 3, Octet
ARABESQUE 6714
1:12 (excerpt)
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 44/2, Mvt. I
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
0:26 (excerpt)
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 44/2, Mvt. I
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
0:30 (excerpt)
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 44/2, Mvt. I
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
10:25
Mendelssohn, Felix: Scherzo in E Major
Pacifica Quartet
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets
Cedille 9000082
3:53
Mendelssohn, Felix: Scherzo in E Major
Pacifica Quartet
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets
Cedille 9000082
0:24 (excerpt)
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No. 5 in E Flat, Op. 44/ 3, Mvt. 2
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
4:06
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No.3 in D Major, Op.44, Mvt. I, & ll, III
Guarneri Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartet No 3, Octet
ARABESQUE 6714
14:59
Mendelssohn, Felix: String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80, Mvmt. I & III
Emerson Quartet
Mendelssohn: Quartets/Emerson Quartet
DG B0003888
14:04
Episode 3
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #1 In A Minor, Op. 41/1 Mvt. III
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets #1 in A minor, op.41/1 & 3 in A op. 41/3; St. Lawrence String Quartet
EMI 46797
0:30 (excerpt)
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #1 In A Minor, Op. 41/1 Mvt. i & II
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets #1 in A minor, op.41/1 & 3 in A op. 41/3; St. Lawrence String Quartet
EMI 46797
13:49
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #1 In A Minor, Op. 41/1 Mvt. I
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets #1 in A minor, op.41/1 & 3 in A op. 41/3; St. Lawrence String Quartet
EMI 46797
0:20 (excerpt)
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #1 In A Minor, Op. 41/1 Mvt. I
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets #1 in A minor, op.41/1 & 3 in A op. 41/3; St. Lawrence String Quartet
EMI 46797
0:20 (excerpt)
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #1 In A Minor, Op. 41/1 Mvt.
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets #1 in A minor, op.41/1 & 3 in A op. 41/3; St. Lawrence String Quartet
EMI 46797
13:21
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet in F Major, Op. 41/2
Melos Quartet
Schumann The Masterworks
DG 423670
22:02
Episode 4
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #3 In A, Op. 41, No. 3
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets No 1 & 3
EMI 56797
0:50
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #3 In A, Op. 41, No. 3, Mvmt I
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets No 1 & 3
EMI 56797
8:11
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #3 In A, Op. 41, No. 3
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets No 1 & 3
EMI 56797
0:50
Schumann, Robert: String Quartet #3 In A, Op. 41, No. 3, II, III, IV
St. Lawrence Quartet
Schumann: String Quartets No 1 & 3
EMI 56797
23:23
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #1 In C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1 – I & II
Emerson Quartet
Johannes Brahms – Sämtliche Werke – Complete Works
DG 0008718
15:53
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #1 In C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1 – I & II
Emerson Quartet
Johannes Brahms – Sämtliche Werke – Complete Works
DG 0008718
2:09
Episode 5
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #2 In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
0:54 (excerpt)
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #2 In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2, Mvmt I & II
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
21:09
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #2 In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2, Mvmt I & II
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
0:20
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #2 In A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2, Mvmt III & IV
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
11:26
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #3 In B Flat, Op. 67, II & III
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
14:34
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #3 In B Flat, Op. 67, II & III
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
1:16
Brahms, Johannes: String Quartet #3 In B Flat, Op. 67, III
Emerson Quartet
Brahms: Quartets
DG 000871802
4:11