The Op. 17 quartets set high standards for both compositional quality and player competence, demanding great assurance, especially from the first violin, in brilliant virtuoso passages.
Compositional Technique
Haydn's Op. 17 quartets show economy in dynamic markings, likely due to his confidence that intelligent musicians would instinctively know how loud or soft to play.
Compositional Technique
One of the Op. 17 quartets, the E flat major, is unique in the cycle for starting with a slow movement, which is a theme followed by variations.
Historical Context
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a universally famous composer, used a copy of Haydn's Op. 17 quartets for performances, filling in dynamic gaps and documenting his personal insight into the works.
Composition History
Haydn composed these six string quartets, Op. 17, between 1768 and 1770, with the manuscript stating the year 1771.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Haydn classed his Op. 17 quartets as 'divertimenti' and designated the lowest instrument as 'Basso', similar to his orchestral works.
Performer Biography
The Auryn Quartet, founded in 1981, has played together for 27 years with no personnel changes, which is the basis for their unified interpretations.
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