Beethoven Op. 18 String Quartets, Part 2

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

Joshua Weilerstein

Clarinet, Timpani, Performing, Trombone, Cello, Trumpet, Bassoon, Classicalmusic, Performing Arts, Arts, Violin, Flute, Piano, Conductor, Music, Weilerstein

4.9 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2022

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Note: This episode will be a lot more enjoyable if you listen to Part 1 first!

As we turn towards the final three quartets of the set, we’ll see a lot of the same characteristics of the first 3; a perfect classical era proportionality, strong influences from Haydn and Mozart, and that perfect blend of vividly drawn but just very slightly restrained characters that marks Beethoven’s early period. But we also will see something else. We will see C Minor, Beethoven’s favorite key to depict drama and anxiety, we will see music that is almost impossibly charming and Mozartian coming from a composer as irascible as Beethoven, and then we will arrive at Op. 18 No. 6, perhaps the most emotionally complex and forward looking of the 6 Op. 18 quartets. We’ll take our same birds eye view of each of these quartets, as we did last week, but I will also do two more deep dives. We'll take apart the first movement of Op. 18 No. 4, and the last movement of Op. 18 No. 6, which is the movement that for many is the highlight of these quartets. Along the way, we’ll enjoy all of the quirky details of these three mini masterpieces, and see how Beethoven was starting to break the mold and set out onto his own path, one note at a time.

PS: All recordings used on the show for the last two weeks were done by The Cleveland Quartet - recordings of the complete quartets are available at clevelandquartet.com

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Sticky Notes, the Classical Music Podcast.
0:09.6	My name is Joshua Weatherstein, I'm a conductor, and the music director of the Phoenix Orchestra
0:13.4	of Boston, and the new chief conductor designate of the All-Borg Symphony in Denmark.
0:18.8	This podcast is for anyone who loves classical music, works in the field, or is just getting
0:22.8	ready to dive into this amazing world of incredible music.
0:26.5	Before we get started, I want to thank my new Patreon sponsors Linda, Frank, John, and
0:31.1	all of my other Patreon sponsors for making season 9 possible.
0:35.3	If you'd like to support the show, please head over to patreon.com slash Sticky Notes
0:39.0	Podcast.
0:40.3	And if you are a fan of the show, please just take a moment to give us a rating or review
0:43.3	on Apple Podcasts.
0:45.2	Every rating or review helps more people find the show, and it is greatly appreciated.
0:52.5	So you might have noticed this is a little bit of news this week.
0:55.0	I was just named the new chief conductor of the All-Borg Symphony in Denmark.
1:00.2	I'm so excited to become their new chief conductor.
1:03.2	Ever since I won the Malco competition, about 14 years ago now, I've had a soft spot
1:08.9	for Danish orchestras, and it will be a special thrill to work with the All-Borg Symphony
1:13.3	and their artistic director, Tekwyn Evans.
1:16.0	I've already worked with the orchestra a couple times, and I've found a terrific spirit,
1:19.9	this beautiful lush sound and a desire to make the best out of every single musical moment.
1:26.2	It's really an honor to become the chief conductor of this orchestra, and I can't wait to
1:30.7	get started in our work together, which actually starts this week, even though I'm not officially
	...

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