Felix Mendelssohn
String Quartet in A minor Op. 13

The quartet in A minor was composed between July and the 26th of October 1827 roku. Its premiere took place in Berlin on February 12th, 1832.

The first quartet in Mendelssohn's oeuvre is an example of his deep knowledge of Beethoven’s final quartets. The structure and the texture exhibit much analogy with Quartet Op. 132. Yet the 18-year-old composer not so much imitates the old master as he refers to his heritage in a highly individual way. This is why Mendelssohn’s use of Beethovenian ideas can be seen as homage to the great composer paid a few months previously.
The thematic material has been woven by Mendelssohn out of Frage (The Question), a love song (Op. 9/1), especially from the motto motif accompanying the words Es ist war? (Is it true?). A quotation from the song appears at the close of the quartet; its expressive climate has an impact on all four movements of the cycle.
· A song-like intro (Adagio) begins Movement One (Allegro vivace) that runs according to the rules of the sonata form. The tempestuous yet singing narration of the movement is a masterpiece of counterpoint.
· The beginning of Movement Two (Adagio non lento) connotes with the song-like introduction. Its extensive middle fragment is an elaborate fugue. Its subsequent appearances are interspersed with contrasting lyrical episodes in a slightly accelerated tempo.
· Movement Three (Allegretto con moto) is a scherzoid intermezzo. A dancing yet somewhat melancholy violin theme develops against a background of pizzicato accompaniment. It is highly contrasted with a joyful and ethereal trio.
· The Finale (Presto) in sonata form is a musical synthesis of the quartet. It begins with a dramatic violin recitative, which will interrupt the tempestuous course of music a number of times. Themes from the earlier movements appear intermittently. The adagio that opens the quartet appears in the coda. Its musical material adjoins to the quotation from the song that crowns the whole.

Ewa Siemdaj