How to get into string quartets?

[gapoc459]

The string quartet is probably the most important musical genre that I am still completely unfamiliar with. Probably the only piece I know somewhat is Schubert's Death and the Maiden... Right now I am trying to study all of Beethoven's music; I'm reading through all the sonatas and concertos, and I am studying the symphonies and chamber music with piano. But how can I begin to appreciate the string quartets? Should I start with Mozart and/or Haydn, or something from Op. 18, or perhaps something later, like Schubert or Dvorak? This is a huge repertoire that I cannot wait to dig deep into!!!

[theholygideons]

try ravel's? especially the 2nd movement and its pizzicato main theme.

[gapoc459]

Oh lol, that's the other one I know. It's awesome!

[ahinton]

Schönberg: Quartet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 7. At the time of writing, it was one of the greatest string quartets since Beethoven. Plus ça change...

Best,

Alistair

[j_menz]

You should definitely give some Haydn a listen. He invented the string quartet, more or less by accident.

[g_s_223]

Janáček's are a little unorthodox (like most of his works) but are superb.

Those of Bartók are regarded as masterpieces, but are shall we say "gnarly" at times.

[inverted]

For me the late quartets of Beethoven and Shostakovich are some of the most impressive and beautiful, but are also quite lengthy.  I'd give Beethovens op131 a listen definitely, was it Schubert who asked "what is there left for us to write?"?

A less known but nonetheless interesting quartet is Debussy's, just to give you a sense of the possibilities of the genre outside of the Classical-Romantic tradition. They're not much more difficult to get into than symphonies; actually I find them sometimes more interesting, as it's interesting to hear a composer getting more from less, so to speak.

[mjames]

Mendelssohns Op. 80 is a beauty.