Beethoven: Early String Quartets

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 18/3
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

2. String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18/4
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

3. String Quartet in F major (arrangement of Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14/1) Hess 34
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Peter Buck, Wilhelm Melcher, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss

Beethoven: Early String Quartets, Music, Peter Buck, Ludwig van Beethoven, Melos-Quartett Stuttgart, Hermann Voss, Gerhard Voss, Wilhelm Melcher, Chamber, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Quartet for Four String Instruments

Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Nos. 1 - 6, Op.18
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Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Nos. 1 - 6, Op.18
Beethoven , and Alban Berg Quartet
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00000DNGD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Average customer rating:

Hard to beat.

Agree with previous reviewer except....

Brilliant technique and understanding of early Beethoven

Beethoven: The Early String Quartets Op. 18 Nos. 1-6; String Quintet Op. 29; Quartet Op. 14 No. 1

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ludwig Van Beethoven: Middle Quartets, Op. 59, 74, 95

ASIN: B000003FBJ
Release Date: 1993-04-06

Tracks:

Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Allegro con brio
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Scherzo: Allegro molto
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 1 In F Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Adagio cantabile
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Scherzo: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No.2 In G Major: Allegro molto quasi presto
Quartet In F Major (After Second Piano Sonata, Op. 14, No. 1): Allegro moderato
Quartet In F Major (After Second Piano Sonata, Op. 14, No. 1): Allegretto
Quartet In F Major (After Second Piano Sonata, Op. 14, No. 1): Allegro

Tracks:

Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Andante con moto
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18 No. 3 In D Major: Presto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Allegro ma non tanto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Scherzo: Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Menuetto: Allegretto
Quartet, Op 18, No.4 In C Minor: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Allegro con brio
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Scherzo: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: La malinconia: Adagio
Quartet, Op. 18. No. 6 In B-Flat Major: Allegretto quasi allegro

Tracks:

Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Allegro
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Menuetto
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Andante cantabile (Variazioni)
Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 In A Major: Allegro
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Allegro moderato
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Adagio molto espressivo
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Scherzo: Allegro
Quintet, Op. 29 In C Major: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Hard to beat........2005-12-14

Hard to fault the Tokyo Quartet in any way. Wonderful musicians in every sense. RCA's sound is perfection. And that Beethoven guy? Not bad. So you either like them or you don't. Which is what all these reviews come down to in the end. Personal preferences.

I think the TQ does a bang up job. I have their complete Beethoven cycle and listen to them all. Frequently. For me, their Middle and Late Quartet recordings are superior to this collection. Why? Personal preference. I prefer the Petersen and Prezak Quartets for the Op. 18. I also prefer strawberry-rhubarb pie to cherry. Just barely. Doesen't make me right in either case. It's so great to be able to listen to all of them. And the Emerson and the Takacs and the Lindsay (1 & 2) and the Talich and the Vegh. I don't want to do without any of them. I only wish the Panocha would do a Beethoven cycle.

Point is, you can't go wrong with any quartet skilled enough to record. You can only listen to as many as you can, as often as you can to develop your own tastes. And expand your spirit.

And 'fungicus'? Try the Petersen and Prazak Op18/1. For what it's worth, I like them better than the Vegh. How do you feel about strawberry-rhubarb pie?

Agree with previous reviewer except...........2003-07-12

The previous reviewer has nailed things down pretty well; I agree with almost everything he/she has said. Except the opinion about the Amadeus quartet! That ensemble's first violinist had a nasty, wicked vibrato habit, a trait that drives me up the wall. Other than that, the Amadeus's early quartets aren't too bad.

Then there's the Vegh quartet playing one of the early Beethovens. If any ensemble plays the Opus 18, no. 1 better than the Vegh, please let me know. The Tokyo is good, no doubt about it. But as far as Op 18/#1 is concerned, I say "forget it! The Vegh is tops."

Finally, yes, the Tokyo isn't too good in the late quartets. Kind of unfortunate.

Brilliant technique and understanding of early Beethoven.......2001-03-02

When at their best, the technical wizardry of the Tokyo Quartet is matched by at most two other ensembles, the Alban Berg and (maybe) the Emerson. The Tokyo has been criticized, rightly I think, for glossing over the profoundly introspective and emotional sections of the late quartets. Oundjian's excessive vibrato is also annoying in the late works. By way of contrast, the early Beethoven quartets are perfect showpieces that play to the strengths of the Tokyo Quartet: splendid tone and intonation, perfect unison, and the ability to turn on a dime.

Tracks:

St Qt in D, Op.18,3: Allegro
St Qt in D, Op.18,3: Andante Con Moto
St Qt in D, Op.18,3: Allegro
St Qt in D, Op.18,3: Presto
St Qt in c, Op.18,4: Allegro Ma Non Tanto
St Qt in c, Op.18,4: Scherzo: Andante Scherzoso Quasi Allegretto
St Qt in c, Op.18,4: Menuetto: Allegretto
St Qt in c, Op.18,4: Allegro
St Qt in F Nach Der Klaviersonate, Op.14,1: Allegro Moderato
St Qt in F Nach Der Klaviersonate, Op.14,1: Allegretto
St Qt in F Nach Der Klaviersonate, Op.14,1: Allegro

Average customer rating:

Yet another musical art form revolutionized by Beethoven

Beethoven: The Early String Quartets

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000000SKJ
Release Date: 1993-04-13

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 1 In F Major: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 1 In F Major: Adagio affetettuoso ed appassionato
String Quartet No. 1 In F Major: Andante cantabile
String Quartet No. 1 In F Major: Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 In G Major: Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 In G Major: Adagio cantabile
String Quartet No. 2 In G Major: Scherzo : Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 In G Major: Allegro molto, quaso Presto

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 3 In D Major: Allegro
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major: Andante con moto
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major: Allegro
String Quartet No. 3 In D Major: Presto
String Quartet No. 4 In C Minor: Allegro, ma non tanto
String Quartet No. 4 In C Minor: Scherzo : Andante scherzoso, quasi Allegretto
String Quartet No. 4 In C Minor: Menuetto : Allegretto
String Quartet No. 4 In C Minor: Allegro

Tracks:

String Quartet No. 5 In A Major: Allegro
String Quartet No. 5 In A Major: Menuetto
String Quartet No. 5 In A Major: Andante cantabile
String Quartet No. 5 In A Major: Allegro
String Quartet No. 6 in B Flat Major: Allegro con brio
String Quartet No. 6 in B Flat Major: Adagio, ma non troppo
String Quartet No. 6 in B Flat Major: Scherzo : Allegro
String Quartet No. 6 in B Flat Major: La Malinconia : Adagio - Allegretto quasi Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Yet another musical art form revolutionized by Beethoven.......2003-05-01

I wasn't sure what to expect upon listening to Beethoven's early string quartets. I had heard many of his symphonies, which I consider brilliant examples of intense passion combined with intellectual depth and fortitude, but knew very little about his contributions to string quartets, other than hearing that Johannes Brahms was greatly influenced by Beethoven during his own ventures into this genre. But upon listening to these cds (A diligent habit I have formed over the past three weeks) I've been amazed to hear that the same passion and intellect continues to shine through within the quartet setting. Moreover, it is not surprising that, in addition to his early quartets, Teldec invited the Vermeer Quartet to record the entire collection under various releases. Their playing honors both the intellect and emotion in Beethoven's work, and I'm looking forward to purchasing more of their Teldec/Beethoven recordings.
Although I still consider Brahms my favorite chamber-music composer, I now see that he had much inspiration to draw from.

Beethoven: The Early String Quartets, Op. 18

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Outstanding '60s Performances of the Giants of the Quartets
"Best beethoven string quartet recording ever"

Beethoven: The Early String Quartets, Op. 18

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: The Middle String Quartets
Beethoven: The Late String Quartets
Mozart: Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall

ASIN: B000003F0Z
Release Date: 1990-10-10

Tracks:

The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Allegro con brio
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Scherzo: Allegro molto - Trio
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Allegro
Quartet Op. 18, No. 2 in G: Allegro
Quartet Op. 18, No. 2 in G: Adagio Cantabile - Allegro
Quartet Op. 18, No. 2 in G: Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
Quartet Op. 18, No. 2 in G: Allegro molto quasi presto
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Allegro
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Andante con moto
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Allegro
The Early String Quartets, Op. 18: Presto

Tracks:

The Early String Quartets: Allegro ma non tanto
The Early String Quartets: Scherzo: Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto
The Early String Quartets: Menuetto: Allegretto - Trio
The Early String Quartets: Allegro - Prestissimo
The Early String Quartets: Allegro
The Early String Quartets: Menuetto - Trio
The Early String Quartets: Andante cantabile - Variazioni 1-5 - Poco adagio
The Early String Quartets: Allegro

Tracks:

Quartet Op. 18, No. 6 in D-Flat: Allegro con brio
Quartet Op. 18, No. 6 in D-Flat: Adagio ma non troppo
Quartet Op. 18, No. 6 in D-Flat: Scherzo: Allegro - Trio
Quartet Op. 18, No. 6 in D-Flat: La Malincolia: Adagio - Allegretto quasi allegro - Prestissimo

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding '60s Performances of the Giants of the Quartets.......2001-09-16

I have always been a fan of the Guarneri String Quartet recordings of the late 60s. Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley, violins; Michael Tree, viola; and David Soyer, cello; recorded this Beethoven gem in the golden age of "Stereophonic Sound". Beethoven String Quartet recordings are a crowded field with many stellar players and the Guarneri were among the top Quartets of their day; in my opinion, right along side the Amadeus and the Quartetto Italiano. For me, these performances just seem to come together. It has a Toscanini-like cut to the chase and maybe it is the tempi that seem so right. They are vibrant, exciting performances, not unlike the exciting times during which they were recorded! When I listen to these, I can conjure images of the Guarneri playing in a University recital hall, with the young, long-haired, bearded boomer students as an audience, trying to intellectualy come to grips with music as relevant in the late 60s as when composed 150 years earlier. The times then were exciting and I find it reflected in the playing.

There are two companion 3 CD sets of the Middle and Late Quartets as well that I highly recommend, before all three disappear from RCA/BMG's catalogue. BMG, which gave us 10 years of suberb re-issues on CD of works from the 40s-70s, seem to have gone comatose lately and rumour has it their catalogue is to be slashed by 50%. With recent digital recordings of Beethoven, in the BMG inventory, by the Tokyo Quartet, the Guarneri recordings may not survive. Included is an essay long out of print (which should offset any complaints about the higher cost) by America's finest musicologist-journalist of the times, the late B.H. Haggin, on Beethoven and the String Quartet.

The recordings are excellent and RCA, despite never being regarded as a heavyweight in the chamber music field, made some splendid acoustical documents in the 1960s under legendary engineers like Richard Gardner who recorded this set. Often under-rated when compared to European recordings, sonically, the Quartet playing jumps off the disc into your living room! There is a spaciousness of sound and the string playing is lush, full, and never edgy. Since I have the LPs as well for comparison, there is more clarity in the CD transfer. The LPs were superb for their time and may have more warmth, but the CDs pinpoint, spatially, the playing much better which gives added dimension to these great works. If BMG is listening, why not re-release the whole set in Living Stereo in a caplet box?

"Best beethoven string quartet recording ever".......2000-06-23

As quartet playing, this recording is almost perfect; the Guarneri even conquer the superhuman hurdles posed by the Grosse Fuge. The Guarneri surely rank among the finest [string quartets] now before the public. Excellent presence and definition.

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 11: Early String Quartets

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Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 11: Early String Quartets
Ludwig van Beethoven , Amadeus Quartet , and Hagen Quartett
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 13: Late String Quartets
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 4: Fidelio/Leonore
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 9: Piano Trios
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 7: Violin Sonatas
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 2: Concertos

ASIN: B000001GZE
Release Date: 1997-12-09

Tracks:

6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.1 in F: Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.1 in F: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.1 in F: Scherzo. Allegro molto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.1 in F: Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.2 in G: Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.2 in G: Adagio cantabile - Allegro - Tempo 1 - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.2 in G: Scherzo. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.2 in G: Allegro molto, quasi presto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.3 in D: Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.3 in D: Andante con moto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.3 in D: Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.3 in D: Presto - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.4 In C Minor: Allegro ma non tanto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.4 In C Minor: Andante scherzoso quasi Allegretto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.4 In C Minor: Menuetto. Allegretto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.4 In C Minor: Allegro - Prestissimo - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.5 In A: Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.5 In A: Menuetto - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.5 In A: Andante cantabile - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.5 In A: Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.6 In B Flat Major: Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.6 In B Flat Major: Adagio ma non troppo - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.6 In B Flat Major: Scherzo. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
6 String Quartets Op. 18: String Quartet No.6 In B Flat Major: La Malinconia. Adagio - Allegretto quasi Allegro - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Quartett F Major Hess 34 - After The Piano Sonata In E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Quartett F Major Hess 34 - After The Piano Sonata In E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: Allegretto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Quartett F Major Hess 34 - After The Piano Sonata In E Major, Op. 14 No. 1: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Praeludium And Fuge F Major Hess 30: Praeludium - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Praeludium And Fuge F Major Hess 30: Fuge - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Praeludium And Fuge C Major Hess 31: Praeludium - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Praeludium And Fuge C Major Hess 31: Fuge - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Quartett In F Major Hess 32 - 1st Version Of - op. 18 No. 1: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Quartett In F Major Hess 32 - 1st Version Of - op. 18 No. 1: Adagio molto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Quartett In F Major Hess 32 - 1st Version Of - op. 18 No. 1: Scherzo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Quartett In F Major Hess 32 - 1st Version Of - op. 18 No. 1: Allegretto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Minuet In A Flat Major Hess 33 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
String Quartet Arrangement Of The Fugue From The Overture To Handel's 'Solomon' Hess 36 - Ludwig Van Beethoven

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Beethoven: The Early String Quartets

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006M8Q
Release Date: 1989-11-28

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Early String Quartets
Quartetto Italiano , and Beethoven
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000KQGOCM
Release Date: 2007-08-14

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From the review in Gramophone

Beethoven: The Early String Quartets, Op. 18

ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000H4ER0S

Customer Reviews:

From the review in Gramophone.......2007-02-24

"Hans Keller, that ardent opponent of the gramophone record, did admit that recordings have one advantage in the case of chamber music: they bring one into the performance in such a way that one can almost imagine oneself participating. With period string instruments that advantage is heightened. An 'original' string quartet can be a terrible disappointment in even a moderate-size concert hall---unless you happen to be right at the front. In a good recording (and these certainly are) the tone is richer, more powerful and seemingly capable of greater variety---the sound ceases to be spatially and psychologically a thing apart.

"The Smithson Quartet (Jaap Schroeder & Marylin McDonald, violins; Judson Griffin, viola; Kenneth Slowik, cello) well deserve such attentive recording, for their performances are full of vitality and subtlety. Beginning with Op. 18, no. 1, one is immediately struck by the alertness, the clear-cut edges (how right their sforzandos sound!), and the attention to expressive detail coupled with a strong sense of form as a living process. Nowhere in this set did I feel that the historical has taken precedence over the musical: where Beethoven's metronome markings seem impossibly fast the Smithson don't force the issue, and even if the opening Allegro con brio of No. 6 isn't semi-breve = 80, it has plenty of drive.

"It's refreshing to hear the tremendous Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato of Quartet No. 1 not taken at the customary portentous plod. The gain in lightness and humour is also refreshing, and in places the Smithson bring valuable new perspectives: the gentle touch in the second group of No. 3's Andante con moto makes one realize that what often strikes one as 'heaviness' in Beethoven's humour is at least partly attributable to our instruments and playing styles. The Smithson's Op. 18 really should be heard."