String Quartet No. 1 (Nielsen)
Encyclopedia
Carl Nielsen
's String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Opus 13, was first performed privately on 18 December 1889 in Copenhagen
. It was the first of Nielsen's four string quartets in the official series.
in Copenhagen under the leadership of violinist Anton Svendsen. In particular, Nielsen added a "Résumé" section in the finale, bringing together themes from the first, third and fourth movements. Although arranged at short notice, the concert which was devoted to works by Nielsen was well attended. The other pieces in the programme were: the Humoresque-Bagatelles for piano, the Symphonic Suite, Opus 8, and the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major, Opus 9.
Published in 1900, it was dedicated to Johan Svendsen
on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
With a duration of 26 minutes, the quartet is divided into four movements:
Carl Nielsen
Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...
's String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Opus 13, was first performed privately on 18 December 1889 in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. It was the first of Nielsen's four string quartets in the official series.
Background
Originally written in 1889, the piece was later slightly revised for its first public performance on 3 February 1898 in the smaller hall at the Odd Fellows MansionOdd Fellows Mansion, Copenhagen
The Odd Fellows Mansion is a Rococo town mansion in Copenhagen, Denmark, named after the local branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows which acquired the building in 1900...
in Copenhagen under the leadership of violinist Anton Svendsen. In particular, Nielsen added a "Résumé" section in the finale, bringing together themes from the first, third and fourth movements. Although arranged at short notice, the concert which was devoted to works by Nielsen was well attended. The other pieces in the programme were: the Humoresque-Bagatelles for piano, the Symphonic Suite, Opus 8, and the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major, Opus 9.
Published in 1900, it was dedicated to Johan Svendsen
Johan Svendsen
Johan Severin Svendsen was a Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist. Born in Christiania , Norway, he lived most his life in Copenhagen, Denmark....
on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
Music
After the tension of the first theme, the cello introduces a more lyrical secondary theme. The modulated central development is broken by strident chords which lead into a short recapitulation, the second theme now being played by the first violin. Opening in E flat major, the lilting Andante evolves into a central section in G minor with a clear shift in key. The Scherzo in C minor is dominated by the central G major Trio with its characteristic bass. The Finale contains a résumé of the main themes of the third and first movements, set in counterpoint against each other and, in an attempt at cyclic unity, ends with the main theme of the first movement.With a duration of 26 minutes, the quartet is divided into four movements:
- Allegro energico
- Andante amoroso
- Scherzo: Allegro molto
- Finale: Allegro (inquieto).