“…They are full of invention, fire, good taste, and new effects” Two compositional essays in the “Erdődy” quartets Op. 76

Somfai, László (2010) “…They are full of invention, fire, good taste, and new effects” Two compositional essays in the “Erdődy” quartets Op. 76. Studia Musicologica, 51 (3-4). pp. 317-324. ISSN 1788-6244

Text smus.51.2010.3-4.6.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only until 30 September 2030. Download (2MB)

Abstract

The study revisits Haydn’s Erdődy Quartets with the premise that it was Haydn’s intention to copy the scores of three of the six — in D minor, B-flat and E-flat — as exemplum for his own library, and there is no reason to assume that such scores of the other three once existed. While the compositional tour de force in the D minor is the opening movement, the slow movements of the B-flat and E-flat form a carefully crafted pair of compositional essays (although they exhibit other special features, such as the E-flat’s Alternativo renditions of different lengths). From the same motivic starting point, both in 3/4 time, the E-flat Adagio of the B-flat major quartet and the B major Fantasia of the E-flat quartet present diametrically opposed strategies of the learned style. The focus in the Sunrise is on the meter, pulsation, and rhythm (including subtleties such as per arsin et thesin entries), while in the oft-analysed Fantasia it is on the modulation and the surprising shifts of key.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item