Haydn's Op. 64 quartets include experimental elements, such as a minuet in the E flat major quartet with two trio sections, the second being a variation of the first, allowing players to choose whether to perform it.
Cultural Impact
The D major quartet from Op. 64 is nicknamed 'The Lark' because its first violin enters with a soaring new theme after the other instruments begin, though this nickname was not given by Haydn himself.
Composition History
After leaving the Esterházy court, Haydn met London impresario Johann Peter Salomon, who contracted him for concerts in England, leading Haydn to travel to London in January 1791 with his recent compositions, including the Op. 64 quartets.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Haydn and Mozart engaged in an artistic dialogue through their quartet compositions, with Haydn's Op. 50 'Prussian Quartets' being a response to Mozart's 'Haydn quartets' dedicated to him.
Performer Biography
The Auryn Quartet, founded in 1981, has performed with the same four musicians for 27 years, which they attribute to their 'unparalleled unity of interpretation'.
Compositional Technique
The slow movements in Haydn's Op. 64 quartets showcase his skill in variations, not for virtuosity, but to intensify expression and explore distant keys, pushing the limits of performability for musicians of his time.
Composition History
Haydn's Op. 64 quartets were composed in 1790, a year of dramatic change for him, as his long-time patron Prince Nikolaus I of Esterháza died and his successor disbanded the court's musical establishment.
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