String Quartet No. 8 (Dvořák)

Antonín Dvořák's String Quartet No. 8. in E major, Op. 80, (B. 57), is a chamber composition, written during 20 January and 4 February 1876 in Prague.

The work, originally marked as opus 27, was composed shortly after finishing the Piano trio in G minor (Op. 26), and before the beginning of the sketchings for the Stabat Mater cantata.

The quartet was published in 1888 by Fritz Simrock in Berlin as opus 80, although Dvořák protested.^[1] The first performance took place on 29 December 1890 at the concert of the Joachim Quartet in Berlin, played by Joachim, Hegemeister, Wirth and Diepert.

Structure

The composition consists of four movements:

Allegro
Andante con moto
Allegretto scherzando
Allegro con brio (Finale)

The recent loss of Dvořák's second child is apparent in his works from this period.^[2] The quartet, like the Stabat Mater and Piano trio, is sad and nostalgic. Although nominally in a major key, themes are often presented in a minor key. The expression of melancholy and sorrow is apparent throughout the work.^[3]

A typical performance lasts about 28 minutes.

Recordings

Dvořák: Chamber Works Vol. 6. CD Supraphon. 11 1456-2 131. (Panocha Quartet)

Footnotes

↑ Score, foreword
↑ Score, foreword
↑ Score, foreword

References

Antonín Dvořák: Smyčcový kvartet E dur, Op. 80. (Score) Prague: SNKLHU, 1956. H 1835

External links

String Quartet No. 8 on a comprehensive Dvorak site

String quartets	No. 1 in A major No. 2 in B♭ major No. 3 in D major No. 4 in E minor No. 5 in F minor No. 6 in A minor, Op. 12, B. 40 Andante appassionato in F major B.40a No. 7 in A minor, Op. 16, B. 45 No. 8 in E major No. 9 in D minor, Op. 34, B. 75 No. 10 in E♭ major (Slavonic) String Quartet movement in F major B. 120 No. 11 in C major No. 12 in F major (American) No. 13 in G major No. 14 in A♭ major Cypresses B. 152

Other	Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor (Dumky) Romantic Pieces Serenade in D minor for Wind Instruments Silent Woods Sonatina in G major String Quintet No. 2 in G major String Quintet No. 3 in E♭ major (American) String Sextet in A major Terzetto in C

Piano music

Named for Dvořák

Portal:Classical music

String quartets by Antonín Dvořák

No. 1 in A major, Op. 2, B. 8 No. 2 in B flat major, B. 17 No. 3 in D major, B. 18 No. 4 in E minor, B. 19 No. 5 in F minor, Op. 9, B.37 No. 6 in A minor, Op. 12, B. 40 Andante appassionato in F major B.40a No. 7 in A minor, Op. 16, B. 45 No. 8 in E major, Op. 80, B. 57 No. 9 in D minor, Op. 34, B. 75 No. 10 in E flat major, Op. 51, B. 92 (Slavonic) Quartet movement in F major, B. 120 No. 11 in C major, Op. 61, B. 121 12 Cypresses, B. 152 No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, B. 179 (American) No. 13 in G major, Op. 106, B.192 No. 14 in A flat major, Op. 105, B. 193

List of compositions by Antonín Dvořák

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