Beethoven: String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130 / Große Fugue, Op. 133
Expected to ship in about a week.
- Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
- Editor: Ulrich Konrad
- Format: Facsimile of The Autograph
- Instrumentation: String Quartet (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello)
- Binding: Hardcover
- Work Languages: English, German
- ISBN:
- Size: 13.8 x 11.6 inches
- Pages: 277
Description
"Unintelligible, like Chinese", a contemporary Viennese critic remarked on the premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven's Große Fugue, Op. 133 in March 1826. Before Beethoven penned a more concise finale, the Große Fugue concluded his String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130, a remarkable work in every sense of the word and one of the boldest of its time. with its six movements, it defies traditional form and today, it is regarded as a pinnacle among Beethoven's late string quartets.
After the composer's death, the original manuscript suffered a strange fate. It was separated into movements and distributed to different owners.
The parts of the autograph strewn across libraries in Europe and the United States have now been reunited in this facsimile edition for the first time in over 190 years.
The facsimile is rendered in high-quality colour printing, reproducing the autograph in such detail that Beethoven's correction process where he pasted over previous entries becomes evident. Without disturbing the bibliophilic overall impression, movement and measure numbers have been added to each page to facilitate usage. An Introduction by renowned musicologist Ulrich Konrad, winner of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, elaborates on the work's distinctive features and its history.
Contents:
- Facsimile:
- String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130:
- I. Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro
- II. Presto
- III. Poco scherzoso. Andante con moto ma non troppo
- IV. Alla Danza tedesca. Allegro assai
- V. Cavatina. Adagio molto espressivo
- VI. Finale. Allegro
- Grande Fugue in B-flat Major, Op. 133
- Commentary:
- From the Holding Libraries (Geleitworte der Bibliotheken)
- Ulrich Konrad: "new throughout, and as strikingly new as possible":
- Works of a late period or late works?
- Genesis of the work
- The broken unity of the autograph
- Forms of notation and corrections
- The manuscripts of the individual movements
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Ulrich Konrad: "überall neu, auch möglichst auffallend neu":
- Teil eines Spätwerks or späte Werke?
- Entstehung des Werkes
- Die verlorene Einheit des Autographs
- Notationsformen and Korrekturen
- Die einzelnen Satzmanuskripte
- Schluss
- Anmerkungen
- Index of Manuscripts / Verzeichnis der Handschriften
Works:
- String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130
- Große Fugue, Op. 133
Publishers use a lot of words to describe what they sell, and we know it can be confusing. We've tried to be as clear as possible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Below are descriptions of the terms that we use to describe the various formats that music often comes in.
Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
Facsimile
Reproductions of the original hand-written scores from the composer.
Full Score
For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
Hardcover
Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
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Similar to a wind set, this is a collection of parts. In the case of strings, the numbers listed are the number of copies included, though generally these are available individually (often with minimum quantities required).
Paperback
When publishers offer multiple bindings (e.g. hardcover) or study scores, this is the "standard" version. If you're planning to play the music, this is probably what you want.
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A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
For ensemble music, this indicates that there are separate individual parts for each player.
Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
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Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.


