Beethoven : String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 127

The E-Flat Major String Quartet Op. 127 is a key work not only in Beethoven’s oeuvre but in the entire history of the genre. The first of the late quartets it 'transfers the formal and symbolicaspects of his two major works for Chorus and Orchestra [the Missa solemnis and the Ninth Symphony] to the more intimate domain of chamber music' (William Kinderman). For years music lovers have been waiting for a new editionbased on the scholarly text from the new Beethoven Gesamtausgabe. The wait has paid off! The highly complex source situation was examined for the first time and thus Beethoven’s 'final intentions' are nowavailable in an urtext edition. The set of parts (HN 740) and the score (HN 9740) both come with a detailed preface and editorial notes.

This new scholarly-critical edition of String Quartet Op.127 the first of Beethoven’s late quartets follows upon Urtext publications of Opp.18 59 74 and 95.Once more the editor is the renowned Beethoven authority Jonathan Del Mar. All surviving sources have been consulted including sketches to clarify the conflicting readings in the autograph. Not only has Del Mar reconstructed Beethoven’s original beaming phrasing articulation and length of crescendo hairpins he has also corrected wrong notes that have taken hold in editions published over the years and has supplemented missing notes.Urtext edition at the cutting edge ofscholarship with detailed separate Critical Commentary (Eng)Parts ideally laid out for performance purposesParts (BA9029) & study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm (TP929) available for saleAlready published: String Quartets Op.18 BA 9016 parts TP 916 study scoreString Quartets Op.59 BA 9017 parts TP 917 study scoreString Quartets Opp.74 95 BA 9018 parts TP 918 study score

Critical Commentary-This new scholarly-critical edition of String Quartet Op.127 the first of Beethoven’s late quartets follows upon Urtext publications of Opp.18 59 74 and 95.Once more the editor is the renowned Beethoven authority Jonathan Del Mar. All surviving sources have been consulted including sketches to clarify the conflicting readings in the autograph. Not only has Del Mar reconstructed Beethoven’s original beaming phrasing articulation and length of crescendo hairpins he has also corrected wrong notes that have taken hold in editions published over the years and has supplemented missingnotes.- Urtext edition at the cutting edge of scholarship with detailed separate Critical Commentary (Eng)- Parts ideally laid out for performance purposes- Parts (BA9029) & study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm (TP929) available for sale- Critical Commentary contains Facsimiles Signs and conventions Sources Critical Commentary: I II III IV Appendices Bibliography

Opp. 127 130-133 135-Beethoven's late String Quartets are universally regarded as supreme transcendent works - among the greatest and most intimate music in chamber literature. Composed in the last years of the master's life - between 1823 and 1827 - these quartets contain astonishing experiments in thematic development and musical form that laid the foundation for innovations in 20th Century string quartet writing especially in the important works of Bartok and Shostakovich.This volume reprinted from the definitive Breitkopf and Hartel edition includes:String Quartet No.12 In E Flat Op.127String Quartet No.13 In B Flat Op.130String Quartet No.14 In C Sharp MinorOp.131String Quartet No.15 In A Minor Op.132String Quartet No.16 In F Op.135 and theGrosse Fuge In B Flat Op.133This convenient affordable volume is the ideal edition for study in the classroom at home or in the concert hall.

Though conceived as four separate movements my second string quartet has a single motif which is common to them all. This is the three-note 'Muss es sein?' from Beethoven's last quartet Op. 135. But whereas Beethoven's theme is notated G E A flat thus giving it an F minor connotation I have sued an alternative spelling - G E G sharp - which suggests an ambiguous E minor-major. This ambiguity in fact becomes the tonal basis of the whole work only to be resolved at the end of the final movement.Each movement begins with a variant of the basic motif on the cello. The first has the original form of the theme while the second has a 'majorised' version which is alsoexpressed as a chord. The third movement with its 'scherzoid' middle section reverts to the major-minor ambiguity of the first and the finale begins with the 'majorised' version as an ostinato accompaniment on pizzicato cello.The slow movement is sub-titled 'In memoriam DSCH' and concludes with a quotation of Shostakovich's motto - D E flat C B - which is basically the same as Beethoven's with the addition of one note.This is not to imply that the work contains no other thematic material. One important theme a rising fifth and a second is also common to three of the movements and is ultimately derived from my first quartet Op. 1 of 27 years earlier to which this second contribution to the form is in many ways like a sequel. Like the earlier work too this quartet is dedicated to my wife.