5 Favorite S.Q. Movements

[TheGSMoeller]

Hey, GMGrs,

Here's another "favorite" thread, but this time with String Quartet movements. No real criteria other than picking your top 5 movements from any SQ work and from any era. I'm fascinated with this genre, from Haydn to Berg, Schubert to Revueltas, Mozart to Dusapin, and am always searching for new ones to discover.

I don't think I'll tally votes or anything similar, this is mainly for discussion and to possibly introduce a new SQ to other forum users.

[val]

Beethoven:  "Molto Adagio" of the Quartet n. 15

Beethoven:  Adagio (Variations) of the Quartet n. 12

Beethoven:  Cavatine of the Quartet n. 13

Haydn:  Adagio (2nd movement) of the Quartet opus 54/2

Schubert:  "Allegro assai" (4th movement) of the Quartet in G major

[Rinaldo]

Only five? I've used to shun SQ's but now I can't get enough (of the good ones)!

Dmitri Shostakovich: SQ no. 2, I. Overture (this has to be one of the best intros in music, like, EVER)

Elizabeth Maconchy: SQ no. 1, I. Allegro feroce

Ferruccio Busoni: SQ no. 2, I. Allegro energico (couldn't find a video so don't tell anyone)

Grażyna Bacewicz: SQ no. 3, II. Andante (ditto)

Henryk Górecki: SQ no. 2, II. Deciso—Energico; Furioso, Tranquillo - Mesto

[Sergeant Rock]

Ravel String Quartet F major second movement Assez vif - Très rythmé

Schoenberg String Quartet #2 Op.10 fourth movement Entrückung

Haydn String Quartet G major Op.77/1 first movement Allegro moderato

Schubert String Quartet #13 A minor first movement Allegro ma non troppo

Magnard String Quartet Op.16 fourth movement Danses - Vif populaire


Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

Great lists, and great variety so far, thanks!
Keep em coming! 

[North Star]

Unfortunately Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, and Dvorak didn't make it, among others.

Schubert SQ No. 15 in G major, D. 887 - I. Allegro molto moderato
Ravel SQ in F major - IV. Vif et agité (as Sarge already picked Assez vif - Très rythmé)
Bartók SQ No. 4, Sz. 91 - V. Allegro molto
Shostakovich SQ No. 15 in E flat minor, Op. 144 - I. Elegy
Janacek SQ No. 2 'Intimate Letters' - I. Andante - Con moto - Allegro

[Conor71]

Borodin: String Quartet No. 2 - III. Notturno
Schubert: String Quartet No. 13 - I. Allegro
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 - V. Cavatina
Vaughan Williams: String Quartet No. 2 - IV. Epilogue
Villa-Lobos: String Quartet No. 5 - III. Andantino

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Berg, last movement from the Lyric Suite, largo desolato (and BOY does it live up to its name).
Mozart, last movement, K.387.
Beethoven, Grosse Fuge.
Ravel, second movement, Assez vif-Très rythmé. (too many folks already have it).
Janácek, quartet no.2, third movement.
Lutoslawski's only quartet, second movement, "Main Movement".

[Octo_Russ]

Beethoven - String Quartet 7 Op59/1 - 1st Movement
Schubert - String Quartet 14 - 2nd Movement Variations
Ravel - String Quartet - 1st Movement
Dvorak - String Quartet 12 - 2nd Movement
Brahms - String Quartet 1 - 1st Movement

[Madiel]

Oh, yikes. Um...

Things that popped into my head, basically.  If I actually start trying to sit down and analyse it could take weeks.

Haydn - Op.76/5, slow movement
Schubert - Quartet no.15 (D.887), first movement
Shostakovich - Quartet no.12, second movement
Beethoven - um...I only have op.18 and from that, Quartet no.1, second movement (the 'tomb of Romeo and Juliet' movement)

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Berg, last movement from the Lyric Suite, largo desolato (and BOY does it live up to its name).
Mozart, last movement, K.387.
Beethoven, Grosse Fuge.
Janácek, quartet no.2, third movement.
Lutoslawski's only quartet, second movement, "Main Movement".

I endorse DD's list, especially the Beethoven and the Lutoslawski. (Just heard Pacifica Quartet play Op. 130 on Sunday - and hooray, they played the Grosse Fuge, not the wimpy replacement finale.)

Five random favorites of mine, I think not mentioned yet:

Beethoven: 2nd Razumovsky, Andante (I like the Razumovskys even more than the Lates)
Rochberg: 3rd Quartet, 2nd mvt (variations)
Brahms: Op. 51.1, 3rd mvt (glummest scherzo ever written)
Shostakovich: #10, 2nd mvt (cat fight in sound)
Martinu: #5, 1st mvt (intense)

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I endorse DD's list, especially the Beethoven and the Lutoslawski. (Just heard Pacifica Quartet play Op. 130 on Sunday - and hooray, they played the Grosse Fuge, not the wimpy replacement finale.)

Five random favorites of mine, I think not mentioned yet:

Beethoven: 2nd Razumovsky, Andante (I like the Razumovskys even more than the Lates)
Rochberg: 3rd Quartet, 2nd mvt (variations)
Brahms: Op. 51.1, 3rd mvt (glummest scherzo ever written)
Shostakovich: #10, 2nd mvt (cat fight in sound)
Martinu: #5, 1st mvt (intense)

Yes, +1 for the Martinu.

[Madiel]

I've only just started dipping into Holmboe's quartets, but there are some great movements in there.  I just listened to Quartet No.12 for the first time, and I was immediately taken by the 2nd movement.