The Op. 9 set includes Haydn's first quartet in a minor key, the D minor quartet, which is believed to be the first of the six to be composed.
Composition History
Haydn considered the six string quartets of Op. 9, composed in 1769 and 1770, to be the true beginning of his quartet writing, unlike earlier divertimenti.
Compositional Technique
A striking feature of Haydn's Op. 9 quartets is the prominent role given to the first violin, with demanding solo passages, possibly due to the presence of an outstanding violinist, Luigi Tomasini, at the Esterházy court.
Compositional Technique
Unlike earlier works, Haydn's Op. 9 quartets are all in four movements, with a minuet consistently placed in the second position.
Performer Biography
The Auryn Quartet, founded in 1981, has performed together for 27 years without any personnel changes, which contributes to their unified interpretation.
Compositional Technique
The slow movements in Haydn's Op. 9 quartets are the emotional climax of each work and often feature a solo first violin part with an optional cadenza, influenced by vocal arias.
Composer's Artistic Vision
With Op. 9, Haydn moved the string quartet genre from 'high-class light music' towards the more ambitious genre of the symphony, prioritizing expressive appeal and structural diversity.
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