The String Quartet in B flat major, D112, shows Schubert's distinctive voice even at age 17, with leisurely expansiveness and orchestral-style textures.
Composer Biography
Franz Schubert, at age 13, penned his first string quartet in 1810, inspired by the established works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Critical Reception
Schubert's String Quartet in G major, D887, was not published until 1851, 23 years after his death, and some musicians even today consider it 'virtually unplayable'.
Performer Biography
The Takács Quartet was formed in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest by Gábor Takács-Nagy, Károly Schranz, Gábor Ormai, and András Fejér, who was the cellist and remains with the quartet.
Composition History
Schubert composed his String Quartet in B flat major, D112, between September 5 and 13, 1814, while working as a reluctant teacher at his father's primary school.
Compositional Technique
In the String Quartet in B flat major, D112, Schubert's development section is the most relaxed part of the movement, which is the opposite of how a Classical sonata movement is typically structured.
Notable Performances
The first movement of Schubert's String Quartet in G major, D887, was performed at his benefit concert on March 26, 1828, the first anniversary of Beethoven's death, but there is no record of a complete performance during Schubert's lifetime.
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