The Serenade in D major for Violin, Viola and Cello (String Trio No. 2), Op. 8, is a string trio composition by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was written from 1796–97, and published in 1797 by Artaria in Vienna.
Structure
[edit]The composition is in six movements
- Marcia: Allegro (4/4) – Adagio (3/4)
- Menuetto: Allegretto (3/4)
- Adagio - Scherzo: Allegro molto - Adagio - Allegro molto - Adagio, in D minor (2/4)
- Allegretto alla polacca, in F major (3/4)
- Andante quasi allegretto (2/4) - Variation 1 - Variation 2 - Variation 3 - Variation 4 (2/4) - Allegro (6/8) - Tempo I (2/4)
- Marcia: Allegro (4/4)
A typical performance takes around 26–30 minutes.
Transcriptions
[edit]In 1803, Franz Xaver Kleinheinz arranged this piece for viola and piano. It was published in 1804 as the Notturno for Viola and Piano in D major, Op. 42. In September 1803 Beethoven wrote to his publisher: "I have gone through [the arrangements] and made drastic corrections in some passages. So do not dare to state in writing that I have arranged them [...] If you do, you will be telling a lie, seeing that, moreover, I could never have found the time, or even had the patience, to do work of that kind." Nonetheless, Beethoven was incorrectly credited as the author of the arrangement.[1] In addition to straightforward correction of the transcription, Beethoven permitted himself an odd extra bar and occasional new imitative counterpoint.
In his book Classic Music: Expression, Form, and Style, Leonard G. Ratner cites the fourth movement as a representative example of the polonaise.[2]
References
[edit]- Notes
- ^ Thayer 1921, p. 208
- ^ Ratner 1980, pp. 12–13
- Sources
- Anderson, Keith (2006). Beethoven: String Trios (Complete), Vol. 1 (CD). Naxos Records. 8.557895.
- Berger, Melvin (2001). Guide to Chamber Music. Dover.
- Daw, Stephen (1998). Beethoven: The Complete String Trios (PDF) (CD). Hyperion Records. CDD22069.
- Ratner, Leonard G (1980). Classic Music: Expression, Form, and Style. Schirmer Books.
- Silvertrust, Raymond (2022). A Guide to String Trios (PDF). Edition Silvertrust.
- Thayer, Alexander Wheelock (1921). The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven. Vol. 1. New York: The Beethoven Association.
- Watson, Angus (2012). Beethoven's Chamber Music in Context. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-716-9.
External links
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