Beethoven: Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 (Danish String Quartet)

The Danish String Quartet plays Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival.
Recorded on August 7, 2015

[@nyc88s]

Stravinsky called this "the most modern music ever written."

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

He was probably right. Only machines can enjoy this noise somewhere in the future. There is nothing human about it.

[@michelcamlic608]

U are no one

[@machida5114]

He said. "It is the most absolutely contemporary piece of music, and contemporary forever." I also think so.

[@carlkligerman1981]

Still (apparently) way ahead of its time. I adore it, always have, always will.

[@jasonhurd4379]

@@Cl0ckcl0ck Beethoven had no interest in writing music for audiences to 'enjoy'. He wanted to express the truth of humanity, of the cosmos and of God. This led him, later in his career, into avenues that led where it is difficult for lesser men to follow. Opus 133 is one such avenue. It's hard to know what concepts Beethoven was striving with here; we may never know for sure. After thirty-seven years of listening to this piece, I have my own ideas as to what he was attempting to accomplish, but it's safe to say that 'the audience's enjoyment' was not a primary goal.

[@Scriabin_fan]

One of the signs of a genius is being completely ahead of your time. This piece was wayyyy ahead of it's time!

[@rahulradhakrishnan5591]

Its ahead of its time in a totally different dimension and scope.

[@red_valkyrie]

Beethoven was the original punk rocker

[@ManfHoerz]

One of the deepest master-pieces and one of the most colourfull. And what a performance of these danish quartet!! Simply Great!

[@BryanHo]

He wrote this not for his contemporaries but looking forward to the future which is why this is a timeless masterpiece.

[@machida5114]

The more I listen to it repeatly, the more wonderful it is.

[@sfbirdclub]

As Stravinsky said, this work sounded modern in the early 19th century; it sounds modern today; and it will sound modern 1000 years from now. This and the Diabelli alone make Beethoven the great Titan he is.

[@hhschrader8067]

I like this performance a lot. In my opinion stands out as down-to-earth, nuanced, with a tender humanity and without any compromise. I get a feeling of looking over Beethoven's shoulder composing this devine dance of life. Simply great, all of it.

[@DayneReedy]

Words fail. Simply sublime.

[@MastanehNazarian]

This is a fantastic interpretation! Well captured too.

[@jasonlloyd33]

Brilliant performance of a staggeringly brilliant work. An artist at the end of his life still miles ahead of his contemporaries shaping the centuries of music to come.

[@brianwilliams9235]

A great mind depends less on its extensions -- it is a universe by itself. How tragic it sounds to us that a composer cannot 'hear' the music he created, but in his mind, he really heard it more dearly than anyone else that ever lived on Earth, and he is the first one that heard it -- he created it! Beethoven forever!

[@flockecogames]

Well said

[@rafulang421]

best performance and film recording made this master piece the presence of Beethoven

[@ryohagitani892]

If I could put one request: the camera angle could be fixed so that every member can be seen always equally.

[@jeanparke9373]

Agree with you, but please do check out 1989 Alban Berg Quartet performance as well. Camera work is also masterfully done there.

[@billcomstock3721]

Thank you so much for sharing this exciting performance. I never tire of listening to interpretations of this fascinating work. This is my new favorite! Great job, boys!

[@olorin4317]

Around the three minute mark, if your brain and body never tingle in tune during the momentary melodic relief, you might not know how to feel entirely alive.

[@josefeisinger103]

Nobody has done it better, the pulsing dance of life . .

[@bryandawkins]

I found I am now a supporter Danish String Quartet and will active seek out their records and concerts

[@42Watchman]

A brilliant performance frames this Magnificent Composition, with the proper amount of Texture and Life. Beethoven was totally deaf when he composed this piece; yet, it Resonates to Heaven...

[@EmiliesPiano]

Stravinsky said this piece was "a contemporary piece that will be contemporary for forever." Beethoven broke every law of the universe when composing this genius work of art. Such a splendid performance!

[@ryohagitani892]

Wonderful. Thank you very much. For me it is one of the few best performances of this divine-inspired piece since Furtwangler. Tempo and dynamics are just what I wanted . Especially the tempo in the meno mosso part is wonderful. Though I wish a more slight ritardando on the final bar, the performance as a whole satisfies me far more than the other ones.

[@SugarcatPlays]

This piece is an absolute onslaught on the physical and mental state of the people playing it. Amazing job

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

This seems like Beethoven, perhaps due to his deafness, had chanced upon music in the abstract, divorced from presuppositional harmonic notions, somewhat like Cubism in the visual arts. Considering that it was written in 1825-nearly 85 years before Cubism-makes one realize just how far advanced was Beethoven's genius.

[@pietro-okinyan]

Grande esecuzione! Forte, spigolosa, energica, ma anche unitaria... E la Grande Fuga non ha bisogno di commenti. O la capisci, o sei tra i piccoli borghesi che guardano al passato come fosse un giardino di plastica

[@richardcleveland8549]

Love the dissonance in some of the late quartets; spices things up - he knew how to use it soupcon here and there - must've made some of the critics of the time grind their teeth.

[@stephenhunt8756]

Thank you for a truly inspiring performance. This was rhythmically electrifying and never less than superbly musical.

[@cassettemode2619]

Apparently this 'wasn't music,' according to some critics back in the day. What do ya know!? Even Beethoven had to deal with that shit.

[@eelswamp]

Every now and then I get the urge to listen to Grosse Fuge. This hit the spot. (I wish, however, they had anchored the camera. I got motion sickness gadding around the room.)

[@davidwood4303]

An utterly magnificent performance.

[@juliecleveland6744]

Oh I so needed to hear this today, thank you!

[@tomhicks4097]

I, on 10/11/20

[@songshed2709]

Incredible performance!

[@sgordon8123]

I came across this from reading The Tooth Tatoo. Thank you Peter Lovesey. Fascinating insights into the interconnected lives of a fictional string quartet but with obviously real insights into the music through their eyes... highly recommended.

[@raginiwerner1429]

Me too! Magnificent. Great book too

[@GlennGannaway]

According to Thayer's Beethoven biography, Beethoven originally intended for this to be a movement of one of his final string quartets, but his violinist pal Schuppanzigh talked him out of it.

[@beethovenfolllower6027]

He Could Not Even Hear.Brilliant.

[@billmcconville9980]

Powerful rendering of a complex and beautiful composition

[@machida5114]

すべてのコメントが この作品を理解する上で 大変 参考になります。ありがとうございます。 All comments are very helpful in understanding this very difficult work. Thank you very much.

[@Andy3W]

The best performnce of this piece.

[@jorgeurzuaurzua4011]

Who said that during Beethoven's time Bach was forgotten? Who said Mendelssohn rediscovered Bach? Beethoven knew profoundly the art of the fugue as taught by master JSBach. Mendelsohn may have rediscovered St Matthews Passion (Thanks God he did) but Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven knew and respected good old JSB. Good old Ludwig was especially gifted for the abstract nature of Bach music and he used fugues in his symphonies many times (not to mention the Diabelli). Danke für diese interpretatione der Grosse Fuge.

[@late8641]

When we say Bach was forgotten, we often refer to the public. Most composers knew Bach's work well, but without Mendelssohn Bach wouldn't have become a "mainstream" composer, so to speak.

[@jorgeurzuaurzua4011]

@@late8641 Good point. You may very well be right. Lauri, Where are you from? Iceland? Finland? You a musician? Sounds like it!

[@late8641]

@@jorgeurzuaurzua4011 I'm from Finland, and I play the piano, the oboe and the violin, and I'm also a composer and an expert at music history.

[@jorgeurzuaurzua4011]

@@late8641 Lauri, nice to hear from you. I am ashamed of commenting on musical matters and running the peril of being silenced by a real musician, not just a modest amateur like myself. I am just a retired medical doctor under quarantine and passing the time listening to Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. And others. I will look for your music in youtube. And I am from Chile. The southernmost country in the world, Finland is nearly the northernmost.

[@late8641]

@@jorgeurzuaurzua4011 Don't worry, you were partially right. It always makes me smile when I hear about non-musicians that listen to classical music, us musicians owe you a debt of gratitude for keeping the classical music alive by listening to it. I'm in the process of making my own youtube channel where I'll be posting my own compositions.

[@machida5114]

It's a difficult music. I am studying. It's a great performance.

[@HopeEaston007]

one of my favorites!!

[@machida5114]

Stravinsky said. "It is the most absolutely contemporary piece of music, and contemporary forever." I also think so. It is impossible to understand the musical idea of it completely.

[@richardmuncey9860]

A wonderful performance

[@lethargicwriter8092]

this is amazing.... what's more is that he made this when he became deaf

[@bassgojoe]

That... is beautiful. And quintessentially Beethoven. I'm surprised the piece has such infamy.

[@kenray5776]

primordial heavy metal

[@cameronross5104]

This guy gets it!!

[@pietro-okinyan]

Bravi bravi. Complimenti. Mi ha commosso. E ho apprezzato molto anche la disposizione dei musicisti

[@hhschrader8067]

an interpretation that seems very clean to me... with soft classical moments and northern light uncompromised colors. Didn't know I commented on this music before. Ok both comments are valid.😄😄😄

[@cameronmelville2251]

Bravo!

[@davidferrara1105]

This quartet is comprised of the same man in four life stages

[@vmp132]

Great rendering!

[@aquamarine99911]

Wow at the first two riffs. Beethoven really liked to swing it on occasion. Op. 111 clearly wasn't a fluke.

[@marielparis4800]

Beautiful

[@thislink1519]

I wonder what this song would sound like with modern instruments since it's considered so ahead of its time

[@xylfox]

If Beethoven would have become 80 where he would have ended up musically? This piece reminds me a bit on Sonata 111 btw.

[@pietro5266]

All Great composers evolve over their lives, but Beethoven's evolution was extraordinary -- progressing stylistically from something just a little more forward than Mozart and Haydn to this, which would not be too out of place in the late 19th century. And some elements are even more forward looking than that.

[@DLJ2890]

He was almost completely deaf and yet amazing music!

[@flockecogames]

Great interpretation!

[@davidcamelot4908]

Well you see it goes into total madness and miraculously it rescues it self and so he shows how it's done as a kind of map or Jungian psychotherapy. Astonishing compassion.

[@JodiTraver]

Wow. Just wow.

[@pabloalejandrofranca7691]

1:30-1:50

[@avantgarde4121]

Bravissimi!

[@Tylervrooman]

HEAVY

[@kevinharrison3265]

Just read a murder mystery by Peter Loveseat. This piece was featured. Had to hear it!♥️

[@raginiwerner1429]

Peter Lovesey (damn autocorrect 😂)

[@thenoseguy]

Remember, Beethoven was deaf when he wrote this.

[@bgcellozone]

Frick yea

[@flaviocruciani8563]

is there a tempo indication on the score?

[@priscilladezambrano6592]

Tocan bkn! Saludos desde Chile

[@ashamansedai]

"Existential dread" in accelerando

[@studywmariah]

Obra de vanguarda. É uma, por ser incompreensível. Não porque não tem forma. E, sim, por que quem emite criou uma forma própria. Contudo, por ser ainda assim incompreensível. Foi publicada separada. Separou a obra em 130 e 133,para haver uma versão compreensível. A 130.

[@brunoschmidt7734]

Brutal..

[@wissenschaftkraft5075]

It's great to see all blond people playing playing German music. It warms the heart. The Danish string quartet is fantastic!

[@alondramojico6838]

Music is for music lovers of all hair colors and nationalities.

[@olorin4317]

Your racism is showing, and it has no place next to beauty and art. Shame on your cold heart that finds warmth there.

[@egelidos]

Handsome

[@solcutta3661]

Exciting til third way then drops me off to sleep

[@obproduction9198]

432hz??

[@chrish12345]

despite being one of the great masterpieces in many ways this is a cop-out, 5 minutes of genius then 10 minutes of sub-par, by his own high standards

[@fabiograssi670]

Beethoven tries to match the fugue with a fast - slow - finale fast scheme. The 10 minutes you consider of lesser level are both a reflexion on and a dissolution of the themes of the fugue, the dissolution of the fugue and of whatsoever form.. The perversion of the finale is pure Mahler. After 10 minutes the terrible events of the first 5 sound as something still conceivable as traditional fugue! Can I hope you change opinion?...

[@水倉新六]

Grrose fuge が、おそろしい。

[@hiroshik2246]

最初は取っ付きにくいですが、演奏半ばも過ぎると【素直な曲】だと感じました。派手なところはありませんが音楽に対して真摯に向かう落ち着いた音楽家がそこにいると思いました。【運命】のような、中二病的強迫観念の曲に比べると、病から癒えた一人の大人が見えるように思います。20世紀音楽のストラビンスキー等の高評価はそれとして、ベトベンはあまりに祭り上げられてますので、そういう評価は忘れ、つたなくともまず【自分の素の耳を信じ】て聞いた方がいいと思います。案外映画音楽の一部として聞いたら分かり合えるかもしれません。モーツアルトの弦楽三重奏等の方が遥かに本格的で高度で困難だと思います。

[@Altair122122332345]

The Cello came in late at 6:01

[@mlppiina3682]

DSCH START

[@marcusrhode]

Coronaproof

[@EmanuelWecker]

Stop Beethoven! Stoooop! You broke all tonality! -.-

[@acrobaticfish]

Hang on to your pants.

[@artmyb]

Thought that this is the best performance until that sharp notes of first violin (and the same played by the second violin). Off the pitch... 8:22

[@tg9479]

yeah .. became a comedy real quick

[@late8641]

If there are a few sharp notes in the entire performance, it shouldn't disturb anyone. I can't understand why some people are still obsessed with the idea of not playing a single wrong or out of tune note. I have perfect pitch but honestly they didn't disturb me even remotely.

[@artmyb]

@@late8641 First of all, it is not a single mistake. Several mistakes on that passage. Clear that the violinist has a problem on that high notes. Second, yes it really disturbs that much. You are focused and enjoying Beethoven's brillance and all of a sudden, there is a non-beethoven sound that were supposed to be otherwise. Third, I think nowadays I am not wanting so much by expecting a flawless performance from a quartet, because even in the 'student' level of this, there are tons of quartets that perform flawlessly. It is easier in the modern age for dedicated people to perform their craft perfectly.

[@beachcomber2008]

@@artmyb As humans are fallible, so must they be tolerant.

[@artmyb]

@@beachcomber2008 I am tolerant against failure, but I also think that I am free to exclude a performance from the cluster of "best performances" when a see flaw.

[@haroldmcbroom7807]

Do they really have to make all those movements when playing? They look like puppets, somewhat demon possessed at that, when they make those body movements. The first guy who played, looks a mix between Patrick Swayze and Gordon Ramsay, but looks as serious about his violin as Gordon is about his eggs.

[@adamgulley1399]

Do you play an instrument?

[@haroldmcbroom7807]

@@adamgulley1399 Not any more... I used to play keyboards, took one with me to work every day, played during my lunch break, at the bus stop, at home, for about 10 years. I was happy with myself, but to be honest, I wasn't nothing to write home about. I guess I played for myself, and if others liked it, was extra.

[@pwnedd11]

Yeah, some of the movements actually are essential. When each musician moves, they send signals to the others about interpretation of their line of music. It's body language. And others reciprocate. It's tough to play a piece this complicated without having some feel for what the others are doing. And just hearing the notes after they have already happened isn't enough. So, they each play off of their body movements and gestures to know when and how to play together. And when ensembles got larger in the late 1700's and early 1800's and you started having orchestras (before this piece was written, actually!), there was no way for every musician to communicate via body language to every other musician.... and that's why conductors became a thing!!!! Professional musicians don't need someone up there keeping time with a baton. But they do need someone to provide all of the body language and cues that they would normally get in a small group like this one. So, with big ensembles of professionals, a main role of the conductor is to make movements with their body to help unify the ensemble in their musical expression. With a small group like this, the 1st violin is the "conductor" in that sense, and everyone else is reciprocating with movements. Also, keep in mind that in this video, they are playing a fugue! In a fugue, each line is really really really really independent of the other lines. The musicians don't share many ryhms or notes. They all are playing different things at different times! So each musician has to be kind of like a conductor in their use of body language!!

[@haroldmcbroom7807]

@@pwnedd11 Thank you, that was the best explaination I've heard so far :)

[@chimpansi2]

Close your eyes

[@DankChallenger]

Too fast unfortunately, need more attack on the theme. (I.e. play closer to the bridge and use weight of arm instead of speed)

[@gregorkoydl2201]

no its not the art to play BEETHOVEN

[@theunintelligentlydesigned4931]

I don't know. I'm bored. It's noise but is it music? Sounds more like a battle between honking car horns each trying to get my attention but making me want to just cover my ears and run away. Several people have tried to tell me that I'm not sophisticated enough to appreciate this music. Sounds a lot like the Emperor's New Clothes to me. You're afraid to admit the song is bad because some con man told you that only sophisticated people appreciate this song.

[@Tolstoy111]

It’s a very tightly structured fugue. Not a single note is out of place.

[@theunintelligentlydesigned4931]

@@Tolstoy111 So is a jackhammer but it doesn't make me want to listen to it for pleasure.

[@Tolstoy111]

@@theunintelligentlydesigned4931 if you’re looking for catchy tunes, Beethoven’s not your guy. He’s all about formal control

[@theunintelligentlydesigned4931]

@@Tolstoy111 Actually, I love Beethoven, just not this particular Beethoven. My favorite is Beethoven symphony 7 movement 2.

[@olorin4317]

It’s discordant sound is intentional I believe to represent an internal bipolar struggle.

[@42Watchman]

A brilliant performance frames this Magnificent Composition, with the proper amount of Texture and Life. Beethoven was totally deaf when he composed this piece; yet, it Resonates to Heaven...