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Of these two great classical quartets which look forward so much to the heights of the Romantic period, one (“Death and the Maiden”) is almost universally loved. The almost contemporary A minor quartet is sometimes referred to as the ‘Rosamunde’ because of its strong thematic links to Schubert’s incidental music to that play. Both are here played on period instruments, with gut strings, in what is an authentic and thoroughly top-class performance by one of our foremost string ensembles.
The Fitzwilliam Quartet has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Acknowledged as one of the finest British quartets of our age they are equally at home in the classics, playing period instruments, or in the modern and contemporary repertoire, having had personal links with Shostakovich who called the Fitzwilliams “the preferred performers of my quartets”.
Note on Pitch:
It is well known that a standard international pitch (A=440) was not established until well in to the 20th century; for this recording of music from 1824 we consulted historical tables of pitches for specific years in different countries, and established that if we were performing these works in London or Vienna in the 1820s the pitch might have been A=433 – as recommended by Sir George Smart for the London Philharmonic. – FSQ
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Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
- String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – I. Allegro ma non troppo (14:23)
- String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – II. Andante (7:51)
- String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – III. Minuetto: Allegro (7:12)
- String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – IV. Allegro moderato (8:37)
- String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – I. Allegro (16:47)
- String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – II. Andante con moto (13:28)
- String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – III. Scherzo: Allegro molto (3:58)
- String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – IV. Presto – Prestissimo (9:58)
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01
String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – I. Allegro ma non troppo (14:23)
02
String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – II. Andante (7:51)
03
String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – III. Minuetto: Allegro (7:12)
04
String Quartet in A minor, D.804, Op.29 – IV. Allegro moderato (8:37)
05
String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – I. Allegro (16:47)
06
String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – II. Andante con moto (13:28)
07
String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – III. Scherzo: Allegro molto (3:58)
08
String Quartet in D minor, D.810, Op. posth – IV. Presto – Prestissimo (9:58)