10 of the greatest string quartet moments

[@strqrt70]

I think some people are missing the point of this list. This doesn’t claim to be a list of the greatest string quartets ever. It’s not even supposed to represent the greatest movement, only a great moment within a string quartet. I think some of the examples are quite good. Sure, the grosse fuge is amazing, but there is no moment within it that can rival the example of the opus 132 in the video. The Barber quartet, as wonderful as it is, probably doesn’t belong in a top ten list of greatest string quartets. The moment used in the video is pretty damn good though and arguably could qualify for a lot of people if you are just referencing a moment within a quartet. It’s all subjective. No list like this one will make everyone agree.

[@bobbowden7228]

The first movement of Op 131 of LvB deserves to be in there !!

[@Toughy112]

very glad to see Shostakovich no 8 mvt II on here

[@DanielColston-k7l]

Dvorak String Quartet no. 9 in D Minor, mvt. 2 at the end. What an amazing piece, dedicated to Brahms. He worked hard on that piece to live up to his dedicatee’s standards, and I think he succeeded. Is that the American String Quartet recording? I don’t know why more quartets don’t perform it.

[@deadlysquad13]

Very good list, especially like that they're ordered in a way that is nice to listen to!

[@renzo6490]

This video and the accompanying comments are valuable to me. There is so much great music out there. I appreciate some guidance.

[@larrydoze7430]

what about bartoks?

[@jaypeej7830]

No Death and the Maiden 2nd movement? The most popular string quartet.

[@soutteruk1]

Popularity does not necessarily segue into greatness.

[@cerealbowl7038]

I'd argue that Dvořák American is more popular.

[@Praetoriusify]

@@soutteruk1 In this case it is both.

[@soutteruk1]

@@Praetoriusify ???

[@henrykaspar3634]

Fantastic choices.

[@Mezzotenor]

I'm tempted to say it's from Dvorak's Cypresses, a set of his song arranged for quartet. Now I'll look at the comments and see if I was in the ballpark.

[@paulwellings-longmore1012]

It's all subjective but my top 10 would be: 1. Haydn Fantasia 2. Mozart Prussian No 22 slow movement 3. Beethoven Finale of 3rd Opus 59 4. Schubert Death & The Maiden 5. Mendelssohn Canzonetta 6. Smetana Any Part of his first quartet 7. Borodin slow movement 8. Tchaikovsky slow movement 9. Dvorak American final movement 10. Shostakovich No 8

[@andrewashdown3541]

What exactly is this Haydn Fantasia? Cheers.

[@paulwl3159]

The slow movement of Opus 76 No 6 in E flat

[@andrewashdown3541]

@@paulwl3159 Thanks! The Finale Allegro Spirituoso is also stunning. My favourite overall though is probably 55 No.1.

[@bobriedinger5287]

Man, yeah, that Beethoven...

[@andrewashdown3541]

The greatest chamber 'moment' for me is in the Mendelssohn Octet, towards the end of the 1st mvt ... different genre, of course.

[@humanrandom1505]

Nice list, Borodin 2 and Grieg 1 are my favourites here. If i add could add more, I would probably add Tchaikovsky 1 2nd movement, Bruch 1 2nd movement, Dvorak 13 2nd movement, Schubert 14(Death and the Maiden) 1st movement, and shostakovich 15. And I guess the bonus is Dvorak quartet 9 2nd movement right? (I'm a big Dvorak fan so I have heard this before)

[@tenorclef418]

Yes, nice! Thank you for the suggestions

[@Lully0815]

Farewell, Emerson

[@zusanchoi6239]

The new edition of Budapest string quartet.

[@RodrigoSantos-we2gw]

Hoje come there is no bartok?!?!!?

[@Christian-tw7me]

@8:45 looks in a Tablet😂

[@nicc9759]

The people in the comment section are a bit wild tbh. Just calm down❤

[@anthonybonet5084]

Dvorak's string quartet no. 9 in Dm

[@iggyreilly2463]

Good list! All these commenters presenting their favorites, demanding explanations, etc. are entirely missing the point. Make your own videos. Good grief.

[@andrewashdown3541]

we're not all video-adept

[@johnharding9792]

The bonus was Dvorak.

[@RModillo]

The coda from 1st movement of Beethoven's Op 74 is missing. That is a real Holy *&^) moment.

[@neto6517]

En mi opinión falta la la coda (o todo el movimiento completo) del 7mo movimiento del op. 131 de Beethoven.

[@1week.]

ravels 2nd movement? have you heard the 3rd?

[@schubertuk]

Hmm. No Haydn - the Father of the String Quartet? No Mozart? Mendelssohn over Schubert? I am not arguing some great moments have been picked - but almost nobody plays Barber's String Quartet anymore (only the arrangement of the Adagio for String Orchestra), and the Grieg String Quartet, whilst excellent, isn't a patch on any of Dvorak's last 5 String Quartets; plus Smetena's Ma Vlast? What a heart-wrenching moment where his deafness kicks in - surely one of the greatest moments ever in music let alone String Quartet? Please understand - I didn't expect my favourite moments to be picked. That would be dull!! So I am not complaining (bizarrely) - just thought you might explain your logic and reasoning within the video - after all, all our tastes and experiences are different. Then you might win me over! ;-)

[@tenorclef418]

Maybe my title was a bit clickbait... Its impossible to objectively find the 10 greatest string quartet moments. I will definitely take a listen to the pieces you mentioned!

[@schubertuk]

@@tenorclef418 I accept the clickbait - we don't use the Internet without expecting it. Enjoy widening your String Quartet experiences. Repurposing your video to perhaps become an introduction as to why String Quartets are awesome? Or stick with it - after all - opinion is subjective and who am I to say my opinion counts more than yours (it doesn't!)! Perhaps these are indeed the 10 greatest moments for the majority of people? ;-)

[@duryi6399]

​@@schubertukI think with smetana, you are talking about Má vlast, but the thing you mean is his quartet "Z mého života"

[@schubertuk]

@@duryi6399 You are spot on, my error! I did indeed mean the "From My Life" String Quartet.

[@kennethbrush7300]

A later video of the Barber shows a much matured sound from The Dover Quartet, posted by Brooklyn Classical.

[@georgtrakl8319]

Դվորժակի վոճը

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

Where is Mozart? At the very least the Dissonanz…. You put Barber before Schubert?

[@jasonhurd4379]

Any list of 'greatest string quartet moments' that ignores the Grosse Fuge is automatically invalid.

[@jancalabuigsans]

I agree

[@DorothyOfTheWest]

As much as players love the piece, most audience members respect the design and difficulty of the work but don't love hearing it.

[@andrewashdown3541]

to whom?

[@Kchkchkch8415]

And Beethoven’ 14th final Allegro is also ignored. I would put it next to Grosse Fugue.

[@samuelungar6528]

Is the barber quartet not the same as the adagio for strings?

[@FritzTheCat_1030]

Yes...the quartet is the original version.

[@dankoppel6271]

There's an easy way to figure out the bonus, but it's cheating. Can anyone guess the method?

[@PeterKwiek]

This is very enjoyable but the snobbish commentary is disappointing.

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

This list must entirely focus only on Beethoven's works. All the rest are not relevant by comparison.

[@davidecretarola2401]

Why the fuck aren't Beethoven No. 14, Op. 131 and Große Fuge here?

[@ultimateconstruction]

Why the fuck aren't Beethoven No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4, No.5, No.6, No.7, No.8, No.9, No.10, No.11, No.12, No.13, No.14, No.15, No.16 here?

[@davidecretarola2401]

@@ultimateconstruction sure mate!👌

[@duryi6399]

​@@ultimateconstructionbecause its a top 10, there isnt a place for 16 quartets

[@ultimateconstruction]

@@duryi6399 haha fair enough

[@stewartsiu1960]

Op 132 Dankgesang is not a bad representative for the team!

[@SittaCarolinensis]

Odd selection.

[@soutteruk1]

Any list that includes Shostakovich is total nonsense.

[@darrig]

Why?

[@soutteruk1]

@@darrig Shostakovich is appalling!

[@BluffImpala2]

​@@soutteruk1Shostakovich made beautiful music, full of emotion.

[@soutteruk1]

@@BluffImpala2 No he didn't!

[@maxludwig8575]

@@soutteruk1 then you clearly don't know shostakovich or what he went through

[@youngpenny3838]

no brahms，what a disaster～～