String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op.130 and ''Grosse Fuge'', Op.133 (parts) by Ludwig van Beethoven
Urtext edition by Rainer Cadenbach. Published by Henle
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was the most influential and admired composer of the Romantic Era, and is considered today to be among the greatest composers of classical music to ever live. His music is known variously for its compositional rigor, sublime beauty, organic development, gripping urgency, and life-affirming, universal humanism. He left a significant mark on almost every classical genre he worked in, from string quartets to symphonies.
Beethoven's cycle of sixteen string quartets spans his entire compositional career and is often considered to be the most significant ever composed. His six late period quartets (Nos.12-16 and the Grosse Fuge) were his return to the form after a 10-year absence and his last major completed works, reaching a zenith of expression, complexity, and originality in his output. No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op.130 is one of his finest works, a sprawling, six-movement, nearly 45-minute masterpiece with intensely personal, tender, and inventive music. It was originally to be longer-the original finale was to an enormous, 15 minute double fugue. Contemporaries thought it incomprehensible; under pressure from his publisher, Beethoven wrote a new finale, which is commonly played today. He went on to publish the ''Grosse Fuge'' separately as Op.133; its standing has improved considerably ever since. This Henle urtext edition edited by Ranier Cadenbach includes the new finale as well as the ''Grosse Fuge'', so quartets can freely decide on the version they would like to play. Parts only. Master level, grade 6
