My String quartett on Beethoven's last sketches - LIVE string quartett performance

[gprengel]

Hi, dear friends,

I am very excited to present to you the first Live recording of the 1st movement of my string quartett which I wrote on the basis of the piano arrangement by Diabelli of the Andante Maestoso introduction and the main theme of the Allegro (and another Allegro theme) of Beethoven's last project:

http://gerdprengel.de/WoO62_1.mp3
http://gerdprengel.de/WoO62-1.pdf

The performance was done by a professional string quartett in Russia :-)

Would you give me your thoughts? You may compare my introduction also with this quite new recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MIctz5e1DE

Gerd

[gprengel]

Now also the remaining 3 movements have been performed and recorded. Here is my second movement with variations on Beethoven's last sketched theme for a slow movement!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeBCq2D9SGo

I recommend to listen to it with headphones .
Please let me know what you think of it ... Thank you!

Gerd

[Peter]

Enjoyed that very much Gerd - you always manage to capture something of the spirit of each composer whose works have inspired you to base your ideas on. Your pizzicato variation reminded me a little of the 3rd movement of Tchaikovsky Symphony no.4. Can you tell us a little about the performance and the Quartet? Many thanks.

[gprengel]

Enjoyed that very much Gerd - you always manage to capture something of the spirit of each composer whose works have inspired you to base your ideas on. Your pizzicato variation reminded me a little of the 3rd movement of Tchaikovsky Symphony no.4. Can you tell us a little about the performance and the Quartet? Many thanks.

Thank you, Peter, since because of Corona many ensembles cannot give concerts they offer the possibility to perform works as a commission. I discovered the Rus Quartet in the internet --> https://www.rusquartet.com/ and send them my score and parts and they rehearsed and then recorded it in Moscow. The first movement in February and mov. 2 - 4 in one day in May. The costs were about 3500 EUR and for me it was worth it as I fulfilled a life dream with this project ...

[Chris]

Excellent, Gerd! I really enjoyed this, and the performance by an actual string quartet made it all the better.

[gprengel]

Thank you, Peter and Chris,

here now also the 3rd movement, a furious Scherzo Presto in c-minor based on the sketch from Beethoven's very last sketchbook page!

https://youtu.be/MU_AC4y91qk

[Chris]

I like the movement a lot, Gerd! Thanks again for sharing these recordings with us.

[gprengel]

... and now finally the 4th movement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAC--iMTx1I

I think it is amazing in how many different ways this last Finale theme by Beethoven can be elaborated. It has a certain similiarity to the Rondo theme from op. 130 but I actually like it better... My favourite part is the slow variation in c-minor at 7:40 ...