Research Catalog

Title

String quartet, no. 2, op. 36.

Author

Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976.

Publication

London ; New York : Boosey & Hawkes, [1946]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

4 parts.; 31 cm

Summary

In 1945 the British musical world commemorated the 200th anniversary of the death of English baroque composer Henry Purcell. Although Britten was said to keep always a copy of Haydn string quartets at his beside, he was not a natural sonata-form composer. But the few times he did use this form (which is the natural form of the string quartet) he employed it very originally and very well. The first movement has the expected two contrasting subjects (although one of them spins off yet a third theme). All of them, however, are derived from the same wide leap of a major tenth (the interval spanned in a leap from C to the E an octave higher). This movement, marked "Allegro calmo, " is an economical, consoling piece with muted contrasts. At its end all three themes are played at once. The contrasting middle movement is a sinister night piece. Together they take up only a bit more than ten minutes. The bulk of the quartet is found in the third movement, lasting 18 minutes. It is here that the obvious tribute to Purcell is found, for it has the name "Chacony, " Purcell's term for "chaconne," a form that that baroque master had made his own. It is in the form of nine-bar ground bass theme with 21 variations. It is magnificent both structurally and musically, among the finest ground-bass movements ever written for string quartet. Throughout the quartet Britten exhibits his special skill in creating fresh sounds for string ensemble. It is a masterpiece in the already-rich repertoire of the string quartet. - Joseph Stevenson on allmusic.com

Uniform Title

Quartets, violins (2), viola, cello, no. 2, op. 36, C major

Alternative Title

Quartets, no. 2, op. 36

Subjects

• Parts (Music)
• Chamber music
• String quartets > Parts

Genre/Form

• Parts (Music)
• Chamber music.

Contents

I. Allegro calmo -- II. Vivace -- III. Chacony.

Call Number

*MX (Britten. String quartet, no. 2, op. 36)

LCCN

• 47027721
• 9790060015397
• M060015397

OCLC

1880155

Author

Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976.

Title

String quartet, no. 2, op. 36.

Imprint

London ; New York : Boosey & Hawkes, [1946]

Type of Content

notated music

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Other Form:

Online version: Britten, Benjamin, 1913-1976. Quartets, strings, no. 2, op. 36, C major. String quartet, no. 2, op. 36. London ; New York : Boosey & Hawkes, [200-?] c1946 (OCoLC)639442983

Other Standard Identifier

9790060015397

M060015397

Publisher No.

B. & H. 9105 Boosey & Hawkes

Research Call Number

*MX (Britten. String quartet, no. 2, op. 36)