String Quartets Opp. 42, 50 and 54

Franz Josepf Haydn (1732-1809): Cuartetos de cuerda opus 42, 50 y 54. Partitura general.

Edited by Wilhelm Altmann.

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) not only produced a continuous stream of compositions in every musical genre, he brought to his creations an originality, inventiveness and craftsmanship that earned them a llace in the first rank of musical compositions. His genius found an especially felicitous outlet in the string quartet, whose four-movement structure Haydn practically invented. Otto Jahn wrote: 'It is not often that a composer hits so exactly upon the form suited to his compositions; the quartet was Haydn's natural mode of expressing his feelings'.
Over a period of 50 years, Haydn composed some 80 string quartets (the exact number is still in cuestion), whose range and variety of structural invention rank second only to those of Beethoven. In this volume the composer's mastery of the form is strikingly evident, particularly in the six popular amd much-recorded "Prussian Quartets", composed for the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II.

Unabridged Dover (1982) republication of ten separate quartet volumes (Op. 42; Op. 50, Nos. 1-6; and Op. 54, Nos.1-3) as published by Ernst Eulenburg Ltd., London (n.d.; publication numbers 154, 167, 168, 169, 112, 155, 156,54,66 and 113, respectively, of the Edition Eulenburg, or Eulenburg Miniature Scores).

CONTENIDO:

- OPUS 42, IN D MINOR (composed 1785)
Andante ed Innocentemente
Menuetto. Allegro
Adagio e cantabile
Finale. Presto

- OPUS 50 ("Prussian Quartets," composed 1787 and dedicated to Friedrich Wilhelm II, King of Prussia)

No. I, in B-flat Major
I. Allegro
II. Adagio non lento
III. Poco Allegretto
IV. Finale. Vivace

No.2, in C Major Vivace
I. Vivace
II. Adagio cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Vivace assai

No.3, in E-flat Major
I. Allegro con brio
II. Andante più tosto Allegretto
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Presto

No. 4, in F-sharp Minor
I. Allegro spirituoso
II. Andante
III. Menuetto. Poco Allegretto
IV. Finale. Fuga. Allegro moderato

No.5, in F Major
I. Allegro moderato
II. Poco Adagio ("Ein Traum/ A Dream")
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Vivace
'
No 6, in D Major ("Der Frosch/The Frog")
I. Allegro
II. Poco Adagio
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Finale. Allegro con spirito

- OPUS 54 (first set of "Tost Quartets," composed ca. 1788 and dedicated to the merchant Johann Tost)
No. 1, in G Major
I- Allegro con brio
II- Allegretto
III- Menuetto. Allegretto
IV- Finale. Presto

No. 2, in C Major
I- Vivace
II- Adagio
III- Menuetto. Allegretto
IV- Finale. Adagio - Presto

No.3, in E Major
I- Allegro
II- Largo cantabile
III- Menuetto. Allegretto
IV- Finale. Presto