The Long Line
The six string quartets Op. 20 by Joseph Haydn are among the works that earned Haydn the sobriquet "the father of the string quartet". The quartets are considered a milestone in the history of composition; in them, Haydn develops compositional techniques that were to define the medium for the next 200 years.
The quartets were composed in 1772 at a time of tensions in Haydn's life, and also when Haydn was influenced by new philosophical and political ideas sweeping Europe. Some analysts see the impact of these emotions and ideas on the quartets.
Movements
- Allegro moderato <br> <score sound="1"> { \tempo 4 = 132 \set Score.tempoHideNote=##t \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \relative bes' { \key es \major \time 4/4
- Minuetto: Allegretto <br> <score sound="1"> { \tempo 4 = 120 \set Score.tempoHideNote=##t \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \relative es' { \key es \major \time 3/4
- Affettuoso e sostenuto <br> <score sound="1"> { \tempo 8 = 100 \set Score.tempoHideNote=##t \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \relative as' { \key as \major \time 3/8
- Finale: Presto <br> <score sound="1"> { \tempo 4 = 144 \set Score.tempoHideNote=##t \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" \relative bes' { \key es \major \time 2/4