The String Quartet No. 13 in B♭ major, opus 130, by Ludwig van Beethoven was completed in November 1825. The number traditionally assigned to it is based on the order of its publication; it is actually the fourteenth quartet in order of composition. It was premiered in March 1826 by the Schuppanzigh Quartet and dedicated to Nikolai Galitzin on its publication in 1827. Its original form consisted of six movements totalling approximately 50 minutes; they are as follows:1. Adagio, ma non troppo — Allegro After the first performance of this work, mixed reactions and publisher suggestion convinced Beethoven to substitute a different final movement, much shorter and lighter than the enormous Große Fuge. This movement is marked: 6. Finale: Allegro The original finale was then published separately under the title Große Fuge as opus 133. Modern performances often follow the composer's original intentions, concluding with the fugue. Beethoven was quite fond of fugues in his later years (others can be found in the final movements of the Hammerklavier Sonata, the Ninth Symphony, and the Piano Sonata No. 31). |
| String Quartet No. 13 5th Movement |
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