Beethoven's new quartets
Synopsis
On today\u2019s date in 1806, Ludwig van Beethoven wrote to his publishers Breitkopf and H\xe4rtel, \u201cyou may have at once three new string quartets.\u201d These were three new works Beethoven had written on commission from the wealthy Russian ambassador to Vienna, Count Andrey Kirillovich Razumovsky.
Beethoven was stretching the truth a bit when he told his publisher they could have the quartets \u201cat once,\u201d since as per the Count\u2019s commission, Razumovsky had exclusive rights to the music for a full year. But then, Beethoven had also promised the Count that he\u2019d weave authentic Russian melodies in all three quartets but ended up doing so in just two of them.\xa0
Today, these Razumovsky Quartets rank among Beethoven\u2019s most popular chamber works, but initially they were not well received. When shown the music prior to publication, a professional Viennese quartet assumed Beethoven was playing a practical joke on them.\xa0
The second movement of the first quartet, with its cello solo on just one note, provoked particular disdain. Muzio Clementi, who had seen these quartets in manuscript, remarked to Beethoven, \u201cSurely you don\u2019t consider these works to be music!\u201d
To which Beethoven replied, \u201cOh, they are not for you, but for a later age.\u201d
Music Played in Today's Program
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): String Quartet No. 1; Orford Quartet; CBC 2020