String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D.810 "Death and the Maiden" (parts) by Franz Schubert
Urtext edition by Wiltrud Haug-Freienstein. Published by Henle
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was an Austrian composer of the Romantic Era and generally considered one of the greatest composers in the history of Western classical music. Despite his early death at age 31, he was remarkably prolific, leaving behind a vast oeuvre of over 1500 compositions, with over 600 art songs at its center. He left his mark on all genres, including--most consequentially for string players--on chamber music. His individual style grew out of the influences of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven and was characterized by a mastery of melodic writing as well as formal experimentation and significant harmonic innovation.
Schubert's greatest composition for string quartet is undoubtedly his String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D.810 (1824), commonly known as the ''Death and the Maiden'' quartet from the appearance of his song of the same name in the theme-and-variations second movement. All of Schubert's best qualities are on display in this piece-beautiful melody and lyricism, harmonic innovation, and deep expression, along with a sense of drama and bravura unseen in any of his other quartets. Today, it is considered a pillar of the string quartet repertory. Parts only. Master level, Grade 6.
