Beethoven was almost thirty years old when he ventured to compose a string quartet for the first time. Could he have been intimidated by the influential models of this young genre of Haydn and Mozart? When Beethoven completed his six string quartets op. 18 in 1799 – almost exactly one year after Haydn’s six quartets op. 76 – he was by no means completing a work of his youth. Nevertheless, they are often called his “early” quartets in order to distinguish them from the “middle quartets” op. 59, op. 74 and op. 95 (1807–1816) as well as the “late” quartets op. 127, op. 130, op. 131, op. 132, op. 135 and the “Große Fuge” op. 133.

This genre occupied Beethoven for the rest of his life – even his last completed composition was a string quartet. His works revolutionised this central chamber music genre, just as his symphonies did for that respective genre: for 200 years, Beethoven’s string quartets have been perceived as giants in the realm of string instrument music in terms of quality, musical innovation and influence.

New: Now the study score with op. 74 and 95 (TP00918) also includes the “Allegretto” in B minor in a scholarly critical edition. Written by Beethoven in 1817, this miniature for string quartet was only rediscovered in the late 1990s.


The slipcase includes:
String Quartets op. 18. TP00916
String Quartets op. 59. TP00917
String Quartets op. 74 and 95 with the “Allegretto” in B minor.
TP00918
String Quartets op. 127, op. 130, op. 131, op. 132, op. 135 and the “Große Fuge” op. 133. TP00934

Volume 1: Streichquartette = String Quartets, op. 18
Introduction
Preface
Einführung
Vorwort
- Quartet no. 1 in F major op. 18
- Quartet no. 2 in G major op. 18
- Quartet no. 3 in D major op. 18
- Quartet no. 4 in C minor op. 18
- Quartet no. 5 in A major op. 18
- Quartet no. 6 in B-flat major op. 18

Volume 2: Streichquartette = String Quartets, op. 59
Introduction
Preface
Einführung
Vorwort
- Quartet no. 1 in F major op. 59
- Quartet no. 2 in E minor op. 59
- Quartet no. 3 in C major op. 59

Volume 3: Streichquartette = String Quartets, op. 74, 95 WoO 210
Introduction
Preface
Einführung
Vorwort
Note to performers / Hinweis an die Aufführenden
- Quartet in E flat major op. 74
- Quartet in F minor op. 95
- Allegretto B minor WoO 210

Volume 4: Die späten Streichquartette = The Late String Quartets, op. 127, 130-133, 135
- Quartet in E-flat major op. 127
Introduction / Preface
Einleitung / Vorwort
Maestoso – Allegro
Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabile
Scherzo: Vivace
Finale: Allegro

- Quartet in B-flat op. 130
Introduction / Preface
Einleitung / Vorwort
Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro
Presto
Poco scherzoso: Andante con moto ma non troppo
Alla danza tedesca: Allegro assai
Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo
Finale: Allegro

- Quartet in C-sharp minor op. 131
Introduction / Preface
Einleitung / Vorwort
No. 1 Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo
No. 2 Allegro molto vivace
No. 3 Allegro moderato
No. 4 Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile
No. 5 Presto
No. 6 Adagio quasi un poco andante
No. 7 Allegro

- Quartet in A minor op. 132
Introduction / Preface
Einleitung / Vorwort
Assai sostenuto
Allegro ma non tanto
Molto adagio – Andante
Alla marcia assai vivace
Più allegro
Allegro appassionato

- Große Fuge op. 133
Introduction / Preface
Einleitung / Vorwort
Overtura. Allegro

- Quartet in F major op. 135
Introduction / Preface
Einleitung / Vorwort
Allegretto
Vivace
Assai lento, cantante e tranquillo
Grave, ma non troppo tratto – Allegro