Topic: Most "accessible" Beethoven's string quartets

[Valentino]

Beethoven did produce some piano trios, about four CDs if I remember correctly. 

[Diletante]

Holy cow!   I'm listening to the String Quartet No. 13 right now and I'm completely gripped! It sounds way more interesting and compelling than the first! Wow, just wow! 

[ChamberNut]

Holy cow!   I'm listening to the String Quartet No. 13 right now and I'm completely gripped! It sounds way more interesting and compelling than the first! Wow, just wow! 

The 13th is pretty much what solidified my metamorphosis from a "rock/metal" guy to a classical guy.  It made me want to learn everything about Beethoven...and classical music.  It's a work with very, very special meaning to me.  Still pretty much my favorite string quartet, along with the 15th, Op. 132.

Very glad you enjoyed it Tanuki! 

[Haffner]

Holy cow!   I'm listening to the String Quartet No. 13 right now and I'm completely gripped! It sounds way more interesting and compelling than the first! Wow, just wow! 

There are so many moods/emotions portrayed in that quartet. Always something new every time I listen. Beyond brilliant.

[Sergeant Rock]

Holy cow!   I'm listening to the String Quartet No. 13 right now and I'm completely gripped! It sounds way more interesting and compelling than the first! Wow, just wow! 

Welcome to the late quartets    The 13th is my favorite...and my favorite poet had this to say:

My unprentending love's the B flat major
by the old Budapest done.
         John Berryman "Beethoven Triumphant"

Sarge

[Haffner]

Welcome to the late quartets    The 13th is my favorite...and my favorite poet had this to say:

My unprentending love's the B flat major
by the old Budapest done.
         John Berryman "Beethoven Triumphant"

Sarge

Great quote! That is just one of the LvB Late String Quartets that progressively pays off with every listen.

[Fëanor]

Hi there.

I would like to know what are the most "accesible" string quartets by Beethoven. You know, the ones that are more easily likeable to the untrained ear.

Thanks for your help. 

I recommend the "Rasumovsky" quartets, Op.59/1 to 3.  I enjoyed them on my first listen.

I'm a relative classical beginner, (let's say sophomore), and although I've begun to acquire a taste for the Late Quartets, my reaction to the Grosse Fugue is still pretty much ...

If you want a different challenge, try Elliott Carter's quartets.  They're pretty much all great but you might want to start with No. 2 or 3.  I enjoyed them on first listen which is more than I can say for Beethoven's Late Quartets.

[ChamberNut]

If you want a different challenge, try Elliott Carter's quartets.  They're pretty much all great but you might want to start with No. 2 or 3.  I enjoyed them on first listen which is more than I can say for Beethoven's Late Quartets.

Feanor, seriously?  I'm not sure anyone would find Elliott Carter's quartets immediately accessible, for a relative new beginner, I think you are the exception.

There are many more accessible 20th Century string quartets than Carter's that might be more appropriate to suggest to Tanuki.  Just a thought.

[Gurn Blanston]

There are many more accessible 20th Century string quartets than Carter's that might be more appropriate to suggest to Tanuki.  Just a thought.

Bartok and Shostakovich leap immediately to mind... Both speak a dialect of the modernist language, but are far more accessible (to me, at least) than Carter.

In any case, I think if you can get your mind truly around Beethoven post-Op 95, you should have no problem with anyone else's.



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Listening to:
Schubert: Fortepiano Works - Lambert Orkis - D 899 #4 Impromptu in Ab for Fortepiano - Allegretto

[Fëanor]

Bartok and Shostakovich leap immediately to mind... Both speak a dialect of the modernist language, but are far more accessible (to me, at least) than Carter.
...

Well I did say that Carter is a challenge, just maybe no more so than LvB's Grosse Fugue.

But I can't argue against Bartok or, especially, Shostakovich.  Tanuki, try Shostie's No. 3, 5, 8, 10 for starters.

Tanuki, if you're OK with avoiding some contemporary quarters for now, I suggest you include those by Brian Ferneyhough and Gloria Coates.     Uck!

[Diletante]

Thanks, guys, for the suggestions. I'll definitely try Shostakovich's quartets, since I've liked his works I've listened to so far (Symphonies 5 & 7, Jazz Suites). And Bartók is slowly becoming my favorite composer, so I'm bound to listen to his SQ sooner or later.

By the way, what is you guys' opinion on Janáček's quartets?

[ChamberNut]

By the way, what is you guys' opinion on Janáček's quartets?

Two thumbs up, Tanuki!    I know I enjoy them.

[Valentino]

Saw on Amazon today that the Hagen Quartett disc of Janacek quartets are available at a reasonable price. For a hardcore, no mercy approach look no further.

[Fëanor]

....

By the way, what is you guys' opinion on Janáček's quartets?

Amongst the greatest, no question -- don't wait. 

[Contrapunctus666]

I think 11. At least I can say that I started with that one and didn't have any problems with it.

[GKC]

Holy cow!    I'm listening to the String Quartet No. 13 right now and I'm completely gripped! It sounds way more interesting and compelling than the first! Wow, just wow! 

That's terrific, Diletante. So what did you think of the Grosse Fugue ?  I have been listening to Beethoven's quartets for two decades, and I still can't get a handle on it. These days I always listen to the alternate ending of no. 13.

The first Beethoven qt. I heard was no. 12 (Alban Berg) and was just bowled-over. This was a whole other world and a whole other Beethoven (c.f. symphonies and piano concertos).

OK; so listen to the other four late ones and tell us what you think of them.

[laredo]

The most accessible quartet for beginners is without any doubt the op. 18 n. 4. Is it casual that it is even the less interesting quartet of all?

[DavidRoss]

My barely trained ear loved the late quartets on first hearing.  It took longer to like the early ones.

[Florestan]

Yes, I agree with the above. My introduction to them was through a set of the middle period ones. There were on Phillips by the Quartet Italiano; I still prize them highly. Unfortunately the quartet no longer exists; they disbanded for political reasons.

Let me go spelunking one more time: what political reasons? 

[mszczuj]

So what did you think of the Grosse Fugue ?  I have been listening to Beethoven's quartets for two decades, and I still can't get a handle on it.

I must say I find this work completely misunderstood. It is always played as if it was the some battle drama, for me it should be the dance while entering in Elysium.