Quintettsatz in D minor (Beethoven)

Last updated

The Quintettsatz in D minor, Hess 40, is an incomplete composition for a string quintet with two violas by Ludwig van Beethoven. Comprising a completed prelude and an incomplete fugue, it was composed in 1817 around the same time as the Fugue for String Quintet in D major, Op. 137. [1]

Contents

Background

From surviving manuscripts, it appears that Beethoven first started work on the quintet around 1815, with sketches of the fugue being found amongst sketches for the Ninth Symphony. [1] [2] It is unclear at this time if Beethoven completed the work.

Structure

The composition, which takes around three minutes to perform, is structured as a single movement marked Adagio - Allegro .

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 ( Kurth 2002 , p. V)
  2. ( Marston 2004 , p. 201)

Sources