ERDÖDY-QUARTET NO.4 EDITION : STUDY SCORE INSTRUMENTATION : STRING QUARTET CATALOGUE OF WORKS : HOB. III: 78 NUMBER OF PAGES : 32 SERIES : EULENBURG MINIATURE SCORES

TOST QUARTET I NO.4 EDITION : STUDY SCORE INSTRUMENTATION : STRING QUARTET CATALOGUE OF WORKS : HOB. III: 60 NUMBER OF PAGES : 28 ARRANGER : ALTMANN, WILHELM SERIES : EULENBURG MINIATURE SCORES

Though conceived as four separate movements my second string quartet has a single motif which is common to them all. This is the three-note 'Muss es sein?' from Beethoven's last quartet Op. 135. But whereas Beethoven's theme is notated G E A flat thus giving it an F minor connotation I have sued an alternative spelling - G E G sharp - which suggests an ambiguous E minor-major. This ambiguity in fact becomes the tonal basis of the whole work only to be resolved at the end of the final movement.Each movement begins with a variant of the basic motif on the cello. The first has the original form of the theme while the second has a 'majorised' version which is alsoexpressed as a chord. The third movement with its 'scherzoid' middle section reverts to the major-minor ambiguity of the first and the finale begins with the 'majorised' version as an ostinato accompaniment on pizzicato cello.The slow movement is sub-titled 'In memoriam DSCH' and concludes with a quotation of Shostakovich's motto - D E flat C B - which is basically the same as Beethoven's with the addition of one note.This is not to imply that the work contains no other thematic material. One important theme a rising fifth and a second is also common to three of the movements and is ultimately derived from my first quartet Op. 1 of 27 years earlier to which this second contribution to the form is in many ways like a sequel. Like the earlier work too this quartet is dedicated to my wife.

Quartet No. 1 in G Major, K.80
Quartet No. 2 in D Major, K.155
Quartet No. 3 in G Major, K.156
Quartet No. 4 in C Major, K.157
Quartet No. 5 in F Major, K.158
Quartet No. 6 in B-flat Major, K.159
Quartet No. 7 in E-flat Major, K.160
Quartet No. 8 in F Major, K.168
Quartet No. 9 in A Major, K.169
Quartet No. 10 in C Major, K.170
Quartet No. 11 in E-flat Major, K.171
Quartet No. 12 in B-flat Major, K.172
Quartet No. 13 in D Minor, K.173
Quartet No. 14 in G Major, K.387
Quartet No. 15 in D Minor, K.421
Quartet No. 16 in E-flat Major, K.428
Quartet No. 17 in B-flat Major, K.458
Quartet No. 18 in A Major, K.464
Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K.465
Quartet No. 20 in D Major, K.499
Quartet No. 21 in D Major, K.575
Quartet No. 22 in B-flat Major, K.589
Quartet No. 23 in F Major, K.590

Volume One
Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op.18, No. 1
Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op.18, No. 2
Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op.18, No. 3
Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op.18, No. 4
Quartet No. 5 in A Major, Op.18, No. 5
Quartet No. 6 in B-flat Major, Op.18, No. 6
Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1
Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59, No. 2
Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3
Volume Two
Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Op. 74
Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95
Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127
Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130
Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131
Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132
Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135
Grosse Fuge in B-flat Major, Op. 133