String Quartet No. 14 (Beethoven)

The String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Opus 131, by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in 1826. Atypically, there are seven movements totalling approximately 38 minutes; they are as follows:

Related Topics:
Opus - Ludwig van Beethoven - 1826

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• Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo
• Allegro molto vivace
• Allegro moderato
• Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile ? Più mosso ? Andante moderato e lusinghiero ? Adagio ? Allegretto ? Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice ? Allegretto
• Presto
• Adagio quasi un poco andante
• Allegro

This quartet was Beethoven's favourite from the late quartets. He is quoted as having told a friend his evaluation of the quartet: "thank God there is less lack of imagination than ever before." It goes beyond everything Beethoven had written up until that point, with the possible exception of the string quartets op. 130 and 132. It is said that upon listening to a performance of the String Quartet No. 14 op. 131, Schubert remarked, "After this, what is left for us to write?"

Related Topics:
130 - 132 - Schubert

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An excellent description of Wagner's reaction to this opus is to be found in Sullivan's 'Beethoven'.

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