The Grosse Fuge (German: Große Fuge, also known in English as the Great Fugue or Grand Fugue), Op. 133, is a composition for string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven. An immense double fugue, it was originally composed in 1825 as the concluding fifth movement of Beethoven's Quartet No. 13 in B♭ major, Op. 130. The Schuppanzigh Quartet gave the first performance on 21 March 1826.
The fugue was poorly received, and Beethoven composed a new finale for the quartet at the request of his publisher. The Grosse Fuge was published as a separate work in 1827 as Op. 133. The work was composed when Beethoven was deaf and is part of his late quartets. The composition is now considered one of Beethoven's greatest achievements.
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