Beethoven se tourna relativement tardivement vers le quatuor à cordes. Lorsque le prince Lobkowitz lui passa commande des quatuors op. 18 il avait déjà 28 ans 30 ans lorsqu?il les termina. Ce sont donc des ?uvres de la maturité qui se différencient nettement des quatuors de Mozart notamment de par leurs exigences techniques tout en s?en rapprochant sur le plan musical. Le quatuor en La majeur K. 464 a servi très manifestement de modèle pour l?op. 18 no 5. Mais les six quatuors op. 18 de Beethoven sont des ?uvres totalement autonomes et constituent l?une des contributions les plus importantes à ce genre. Les copies des quatuors réalisées à la demande de Beethoven afin de lestransmettre au prince Lobkowitz leur commanditaire ont été à nouveau consultables dans les années 1980. Elles constituent un stade antérieur à la version finale de la première édition et comportent des indications de nuances et d?articulation plus riches ce qui les rend intéressantes notamment du point de vue de la pratique. Comme les manuscrits des six quatuors op. 18 n?ont pas été con-servés ces copies revêtent évidemment une signification particulière. Elles ont pu être prises en compte pour la première fois dans le cadre de la présente édition Urtext proposée par les éditions Henle.

The E-Flat Major String Quartet Op. 127 is a key work not only in Beethoven’s oeuvre but in the entire history of the genre. The first of the late quartets it 'transfers the formal and symbolicaspects of his two major works for Chorus and Orchestra [the Missa solemnis and the Ninth Symphony] to the more intimate domain of chamber music' (William Kinderman). For years music lovers have been waiting for a new editionbased on the scholarly text from the new Beethoven Gesamtausgabe. The wait has paid off! The highly complex source situation was examined for the first time and thus Beethoven’s 'final intentions' are nowavailable in an urtext edition. The set of parts (HN 740) and the score (HN 9740) both come with a detailed preface and editorial notes.

À l?époque classique et pendant une grande partie du 19e siècle les trios avec piano consti-tuaient pour ainsi dire des articles très tendance. Il n?est donc pas surprenant qu?après Haydn et Mozart Beethoven se soit lui aussi essayé à ce genre et ait laissé en tout 13 trios avec piano. Ce premier volume contient les trois trios avec piano op. 1 qui sont aussi les toutes premières ?uvres considérées par Beethoven comme dignes de porter un numéro d?opus. Ils sont ac-compagnés du trio op. 11 pour clarinette ou violon violoncelle et piano (dit «Gassenhauer»). Lorsque Beethoven présenta les trois trios op. 1 au public probablement lors d?une soirée chez le prince Lichnowsky en août1795 (à laquelle assistait aussi Joseph Haydn) il suscita une grande admiration. Ces trios restent jusqu?à ce jour des joyaux du genre.

À l?époque classique et pendant une grande partie du 19e siècle les trios avec piano consti-tuaient pour ainsi dire des articles très tendance. Il n?est donc pas surprenant qu?après Haydn et Mozart Beethoven se soit lui aussi essayé à ce genre et ait laissé en tout 13 trios avec piano. Ce deuxième volume contient les deux trios avec piano op. 70 le trio op. 97 ainsi que les va-riations sur la chanson «Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu» op. 121a. Comme souvent le surnom de «Trio des esprits» du trio op. 70 no 1 ne lui a pas été attribué par Beethoven lui-même mais tient sans doute aux sonorités particulières un peu lugubres du mouvement lent. Le trio op. 97 est dit «del?archiduc» en référence à son dédicataire l?archiduc Rodolphe. Il s?agit certainement du trio avec piano de Beethoven le plus significatif mais aussi le plus long puisqu?il dure plus de 45 minutes. Bien que composé dès 1810/11 il ne fut publié qu?en 1816.

Alongside Bach’s Solo Suites a further highlight for cellists are Beethoven’s five Cello Sonatas. They were published between 1797 and 1817 and thus cover a large part of Beethoven’s compositional lifetime mirroring important stages of his musical development. This revised edition incorporates the findings contained in the critical report of the Beethoven Complete Edition which was compiled at the same time. The Urtext edition hasbeen re-engraved but the proven page layout of the previous edition has been preserved. The renowned cellist David Geringas provided completely new fingerings and bowings for the cello part which also has excellent page turns.An unmarked Urtext part is also included.

Some of Beethoven?s most enduring and unabashedly successful works stem from his so-called ?Middle Period? and in the genre of chamber music the quartets Op.74 and 95 together with the recently issued Op.59 quartets complete this period.Jonathan Del Mar?s scholarly critical edition of quartets Op.74 and 95 sets the record straight once and for all restoring Beethoven?s articulation dynamics and lengths of slurs as the composer originally intended.The interdependency of the sources and their readings are clearly laid out by Del Mar in his Critical Commentary which also contains facsimile pages pointing out ambiguities with previouseditions.- Bärenreiter quality Urtext.- Critical Commentary (Eng) with facsimiles.- Study score includes historical introduction (Ger/Eng) by Barry Cooper.- Parts BA9018.

Music Minus One Cello Deluxe 2-CD Set-This beautiful and substantial string quartet is eternally popular amongst chamber music aficionados. Beautiful harmonies and of course Beethoven's masterful ability to combine the for instruments make it a favorite. Includes complete printed music score and two compact discs containing a complete performance with soloist then performed again minus the soloist. Performed by Evalyn Steinbock violoncello Accompaniment: Masako Yanagita 1st violin Marnie Hall 2nd violin Linda Lawrence viola

Duet for Two Cellos in Bb-Beethoven's sonata for violoncello is a staple of the chamber repertoire Telemann's duet sonata is a feast of 18th-century music at its finest: Includes accompaniments for both primo and secondo parts. Includes complete printed music score on high-quality ivory paper including both primo and secondo parts for the Telemann Duet and a compact disc containing a complete performance with soloist then performed again minus the soloist. An additional version minus first 'cello is provided so you can play either primo or secondo part in the Telemann Duet. Performed by Steven Thomas violoncello Accompaniment: Steve Isaacson piano

The Eulenburg Miniature Score for Beethoven's String Quartet In E Flat Op.74. Commonly known as the Harp Quartet.

Beethoven probably originally planned a complete string duo with four movements. Aside from the introductory movement a minuet has also survived that is likewise published here. This single edition taken from the establishedvolume 'String Trios and String Duos' (HN192) will certainly secure many new friends for this original work.

A must for all ambitious String ensembles: this classic of the Henle catalogue has received a great many improvements based on the latest findings of scholarship. After years of research Beethoven‘s completeString Quintets are now available in a thoroughly revised set of parts and an improved appearance on the page. Needless to say the parts are accompanied by a study score (HN 9267).

Arranged from the original version for Mandolin and Piano-For Countess Josephine of Clary-Aldringen Beethoven wrote several works for mandolin and piano four of which are still extant. These new arrangements adhere as closely to the original as possible and are written in the original key. The elegant works are shining little gems. Sonatina in C major radiates a virtuoso ease and cheerfulness while the variations of the Andante are full of humour with deep emotions in the minor variation.

Henle Urtext Edition Box Set of Beethoven's String Quartets. Contains seven individual study score editions with Op.18; Op.59 74 95; Op.127; Op.130 133; Op.131; Op.132 and Op.135.