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C O U R S E
The World of the String Quartet
Mia Chung, Curtis Institute of Music
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C O U R S E L E C T U R E The History of the String Quartet Notes taken on July 9, 2015 by Edward Tanguay |
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the history of the string quartet
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how did it come to be
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the term needs to be defined precisely to answer the question
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development was as long one
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hard to identify a starting point
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although string quartets as defined were being performed in the 18th century, the term "string quartet" was not fully in use until the 19th century
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the term is muddied by its close relationship to other kinds of writing
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orchestral writing in the middle of the 18th century
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two violins
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one viola
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one cello
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often performed in a chamber music like setting
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music for four voices began as early as the end of the 12th century
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Pérotin
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writing for four human voices, not string instruments
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Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)
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Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
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Baroque composer
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sonatas for four instruments
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two violins
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one viola
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one cello
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removed the harpsichord and replaced it with the viola
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for 1715-1725 this was revolutionary
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this can be said to be the beginning of the string quartet
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first half of 18th century, the harpsichord was omnipresent in chamber music
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Bach
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Handel
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Georg Philipp Telemann
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Baroque Trio Sonata
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standard musical approach of the time
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two soloists, usually two violins
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third party: basso continuo
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two parts:
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1. harpsichord
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forerunner of Fortepiano
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instrument for which Haydn, Mozart, and the early Beethoven wrote their piano music
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which is forerunner of modern day piano
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created harmonic filler and was used to fortify the base alongside the cello
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2. low range string instrument like he cello
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Scarlatti's contribution was to include the viola as instrument in place of the harpsichord, the cello itself could hold down the base line, thus instigating the string quartet
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Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
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he was a prolific string composer
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especially for the string quartet
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wrote 68 quartets
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commonly views as the "Father of the String Quartet"
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was asked by a baron to compose a piece that could be performed by four friends of music
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was only 18 at the time
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accepted in the invitation
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some suggest that it was later
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between 25-30 or 1757-1762