Art_of_Listening_Concert_Report

Concert Report Haydn 2009 ∙ The Complete String Quartets Friday, March 20, 2009 ∙ 9PM Pollack Hall, Schulich School of Music, McGill University For both pieces, by Franz Joseph Haydn: {draw:rect} String Quartet No. 26 in g Minor, Op. 20, No. 3, Hob. III:33: Movement IV, Finale: Allegro di molto String Quartet No. 64 in D Major, Op. 76, No. 5, Hob. III:79: Movement II, Largo: Cantabile e mesto spent most of his working life as Kapellmeister of the Esterházy Royal family (30 years), isolated at the Eszterháza—the family’s vast summer estate—in Fertőd, Hungary1 Classical era (lecture notes from Thursday, February 5, 2009) string quartet: two violins (Violin 1, Violin 2), one viola, and one cello (_Listen_, 209) very typical of the Classical period due to its four-movement plan, form, and texture (_Listen_, 209-10) uses sonata form, variations, minuet with trio, as well as rondo form in quartet—all very characteristic of the Classical era; both pieces appear to be in sonata form (_Listen_, 209) instruments play in homophony, tune is very prominent, clear and easy-to-follow (_Listen_, 178-9) orchestration is atypical, however, due to the limited number of players and no conductor (no real balance/contrast between soloist and “orchestra”) (_Listen_, 209-10) Every good thing must come to an end, and within a short hour and a half, my amazing night with the Brentano String Quartet had come to an end. There only remains but two regrets for the night; not having sat closer to the performers; and not purchasing more tickets for other concerts of the festival! {draw:rect} Bibliography James Webster and Georg Feder. "Haydn, Joseph." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 21 Mar. 2009 http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/44593. "String Quartets, Op. 20 (Haydn)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Feb 2009, 18:13 UTC. 21 Mar 2009 .