The String Quartet Game (Final Round)

[Crudblud]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 50
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 50
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 48
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 80
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 38 (+5)
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80 (+5)
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 50
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 85
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 51
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[Ken B]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 50
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 50
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 48
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 82(+2)
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 38
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 53(+3)
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 90(+5)
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 51
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[Sammy]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 50
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 50
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 48
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 82
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 43 (+5)
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 53
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 95 (+5)
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 51
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[Trout]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 52 (+2)
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 55 (+5)
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 48
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 82
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 43
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 53
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 95
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 54 (+3)
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[André]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 52
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 55
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 48
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 87 (+5)
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 43
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 58 (+5)
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 95
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 54
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[San Antone]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 57 (+5)
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 55
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 53 (+5)
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 87
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 43
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 58
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 95
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 54
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[mc ukrneal]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 62 (+5)
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 55
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 53
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 92 (+5)
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 43
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 58
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 95
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 54
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Now I realise I shoulda voted more for Schoenberg

[Gurn Blanston]

Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91 - 62
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131 - 55
Beethoven - String Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132 - 12
Berg - Lyric Suite for String Quartet - 13
Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 - 53
Dvořák - String Quartet no. 13 in G major, op. 106 - 25

Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten" - 97 (+5)
Janácek - String Quartet no. 1 "Kreutzer Sonata" - 16
Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13 - 51
Mozart - String Quartet no. 14 in G major, K 387 "Spring" - 26
Mozart - String Quartet no. 19 in C major, K 465 "Dissonance" - 21
Myaskovsky - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, op. 86 - 18

Ravel - String Quartet in F major - 43
Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10 - 80
Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen" - 58
Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde" - 100 (+5)
Schubert - String Quartet no. 15 in G major, D 887 - 7
Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5 - 54
Zemlinsky - String Quartet no. 2, op. 15 - 25

[Sammy]

The Final Round is complete with Franz Schubert's "Rosamunde" Quartet crowned GMG's Top String Quartet.

Here's Our Collective Top Ten:

1.  Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde"
2.  Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten"
3.  Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10
4.  Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91
5.  Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen"
6.  Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131
7.  Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5
8.  Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10
9.  Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13
10. Ravel - String Quartet in F major

An exceptional top ten and I thank you all for your game participation/courtesy/fair play!!

Announcement:

I will be off the grid from May 30 to June 6.  With that in mind, I won't be starting any new games until my return on 7 June or later.  Stay frosty!

P.S. - Are any of you surprised with Schubert's showing?  I sure didn't see it coming.

Another P.S. - Some of you were concerned that modernist works would fall by the wayside, but 4 of them made the top ten with Debussy/Ravel having one foot in the door.  Another concern was that Haydn would dominate the top ten, but there's only one Haydn on the list.  All of this is ample evidence that anything can happen in an honestly run game.

[Gurn Blanston]

An exceptional top ten and I thank you all for your game participation/courtesy/fair play!!

Are any of you surprised with Schubert's showing?  I sure didn't see it coming.

Another P.S. - Some of you were concerned that modernist works would fall by the wayside, but 4 of them made the top ten with Debussy/Ravel having one foot in the door.  Another concern was that Haydn would dominate the top ten, but there's only one Haydn on the list.  All of this is ample evidence that anything can happen in an honestly run game.

I am surprised about the Schubert, it is my favorite Schubert quartet, but I didn't realize anyone shared my pleasure in it, since it rarely gets talked about. It is a thing of beauty.

The Haydn works suffered from overexposure, as I thought they would. Beethoven and Mozart suffered that same fate. The votes got split up and so none of them could advance, even in the elimination rounds.

I was also happy to see some modern works make the list. It shows good balance overall, I think. 10 is a tough number to whittle down to, but that's the hard core, I guess.

[Ken B]

I am surprised about the Schubert, it is my favorite Schubert quartet, but I didn't realize anyone shared my pleasure in it, since it rarely gets talked about. It is a thing of beauty.

The Haydn works suffered from overexposure, as I thought they would. Beethoven and Mozart suffered that same fate. The votes got split up and so none of them could advance, even in the elimination rounds.

I was also happy to see some modern works make the list. It shows good balance overall, I think. 10 is a tough number to whittle down to, but that's the hard core, I guess.

My favourite Quartet is actually Death, but I ended up casting more votes for the winner as it got out the gate much faster. One wants to prevent a seriously embarrassing poll result that would shame GMG unto the seventh generation. Here at least the third generation should be safe 

[Gurn Blanston]

My favourite Quartet is actually Death, but I ended up casting more votes for the winner as it got out the gate much faster. One wants to prevent a seriously embarrassing poll result that would shame GMG unto the seventh generation. Here at least the third generation should be safe 

Yep, had this discussion offline with a friend just a couple of weeks ago, in fact. I do like 'Death...', but something about 'Rosamunde' just hooks me in.  And yes, there need to be cooperative efforts. The results could be disastrous!

[Baron Scarpia]

Given that my favorite works for string quartet were eliminated before the final round, I found the conclusion of this game a dull affair.

[Crudblud]

Pretty damn good.

[San Antone]

Here's Our Collective Top Ten:

1.  Schubert - String Quartet no. 13 in A minor, D 804, op. 29 "Rosamunde"
2.  Haydn - String Quartet in D minor, op. 76/2 "Quinten"
3.  Schoenberg - String Quartet no. 2 in F# minor, op. 10
4.  Bartok - String Quartet no. 4, Sz 91
5.  Schubert - String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Der Tod und das Mädchen"
6.  Beethoven - String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, op. 131
7.  Webern - Movements for String Quartet, op. 5
8.  Debussy - String Quartet in G minor, op. 10
9.  Kurtág - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, op. 13
10. Ravel - String Quartet in F major

I'm happy with the results.  Once it was obvious that Schubert, Schoenberg and Haydn were running away with the game I was just trying to get my two favorites in the final group.  I have been surprised throughout these games at how poorly Beethoven's works did.

But I think he is happy that his quartets are recorded and sell more than any of the others and probably doesn't really care about our little game ...   

[Baron Scarpia]

I can only give thanks that Brian didn't write string quartets, otherwise they would have dominated the field on this site. 

[Sammy]

I'm happy with the results.  Once it was obvious that Schubert, Schoenberg and Haydn were running away with the game I was just trying to get my two favorites in the final group.  I have been surprised throughout these games at how poorly Beethoven's works did.

I suppose I can consider myself a veteran of these musical games, and I do attest to the fact that Beethoven's scores are generally very disappointing given that he seems to be the big cheese based on general consensus.  About a year ago, a fellow game player told me I should ban Beethoven from all my games because he would win them all.  What isn't routinely understood is that our games do not measure general consensus, just the preferences of the folks who play the games.  Also, the members who do play usually have a much more intense interest in classical music than the typical person represented in a general consensus.  I've learned through experience to expect the unexpected.

A couple of examples:

1.  As I write, there's a concertos round going on where EJ Moeran is blowing away the competition.

2.  I've run games where Howard Hanson wins, and I wonder how Hanson could win anything.

3.  Other unexpected game winners:
Atterberg - Cello Concerto
Bruckner - Psalm 150
Debussy - Pelleas et Melisande
Dvorak - Rusalka
Handel - Ariodante
Langgaard - Symphony no. 4
Moeran - Symphony in G minor
Respighi - Concerto Gregoriano
Saygun - Violin Concerto
Vaughan Williams - Oboe Concerto
Zemlinsky - Sinfonietta

I'm not writing the above list to indicate that the works are not deserving of victory, just that I found the choices unusual.

[Sergeant Rock]

I am surprised about the Schubert, it is my favorite Schubert quartet, but I didn't realize anyone shared my pleasure in it

It's actually my favorite string quartet, not just favorite Schubert quartet. I was surprised too at how well it did because it was my impression the majority of folks here preferred "the Maiden" and/or the G major.

Sarge

[Mahlerian]

I'm disappointed a bit by the lack of Mozart in the top 10, but most seemed rather uninterested in helping him in the final round.