String Quartet in D major (Schönberg)
The string quartet in D major by the Austrian composer Arnold Schönberg (1874–1951) from 1897 does not have an opus number and is the composer's first string quartet that has survived in its entirety . The Vienna premiere in 1898 was met with approval.
Origin, structure and characterization
The string quartet in D major was completed in autumn 1897 and is the composer's first extant major work. The then 23-year-old Schönberg received support from his composing mentor Alexander von Zemlinsky , who, after submitting the manuscript, recommended that he revise the 1st movement and replace the 2nd movement completely; apparently the 3rd movement that had already begun was also composed anew . This first completed string quartet by Schönberg belongs to a group of several quartet attempts that preceded the 4 “official” quartets with opus numbers (according to Schönberg at least five or six forerunners), of which individual fragments in the estate testify.
The string quartet in D major has a playing time of about 25 minutes and is in four movements:
- Allegro molto
- Intermezzo - Andantino grazioso
- Andante con moto. Variations 1–5
- Allegro
The quartet is stylistically in the tradition of Johannes Brahms and does not yet reveal the strong influence of Richard Wagner in the following years (let alone Schönberg's later break with tonality ).
A regular sonata movement is followed by a dance-like intermezzo of the consistently muted strings. The slow movement is a series of variations whose theme is voiced solo by the cello. The finale is laid out as a rondo and has motivic links to the 1st movement. The themes of education of the D major quartet partly reminds works Antonín Dvořák , as in folk music sounding theme of the fourth set. The first theme of the opening movement already echoes its American Quartet (third movement).
reception
On the mediation of Alexander von Zemlinsky, board member of the Wiener Tonkünstlerverein, the work was performed for the first time in a non-public concert on March 17, 1898 by an ad hoc quartet composed of members of the Tonkünstlerverein. The first public performance took place on December 20, 1898 in the Bösendorfer Hall in Vienna by the Fitzner Quartet . The criticism of this performance was very positive, so the Wiener Neue Presse reported in a review on December 24, 1898: “[...] a new string quartet by Arnold Schönberg not only achieved an unusual success, but also made the impression on all music fans present, that one has to deal with a true talent in his author who spoke his first significant word. "
After the first performances, the quartet was forgotten until Schönberg's death. In 1951 the Library of Congress acquired the autograph score and parts. The first print was published by Faber Music , London in 1966 . Several recordings of this early work by Arnold Schönberg are available.
Individual evidence
- ↑ cf. Manuel Gervink: Arnold Schönberg and his time . Laaber, 2000, ISBN 3-921518-88-1 , p. 108.
- ↑ cit. n. Arnold Schönberg Center, work introduction by Eike Feß
- ^ Discography, Arnold Schönberg Center
literature
- Eberhard Friday: Arnold Schönberg . Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag, Reinbek, 1973, ISBN 3-499-50202-X , p. 11
- Manuel Gervink: Arnold Schönberg and his time . Laaber, 2000, ISBN 3-921518-88-1 , pp. 108-109.
- CD text by Christian Martin Schmidt on MDG 307 0919-2; Schönberg: String Quartets in D major and No. 1 op. 7, Leipzig String Quartet