"Of the symphony he may be said with truth to have enlarged the sphere . . . enriched and developed the capacities with the versatility of true genius . . . the quartet he also brought to perfection." — Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Mozart's best friend and Beethoven's teacher, Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) was not only the first of the three great masters of the Viennese classical school — but its principal founder. From the close of the baroque period to the advent of romanticism, his creative activity bridged a half-century of profound revolution in music, and there is scarcely an area in which his influence is not to be felt.
But it is in the string quartet that Haydn's originality, inventiveness, and craftsmanship found their most natural mode of expression. During 50 prolific years, he composed over 80 string quartets (the exact number is still in question), practically inventing the four-movement structure and elevating the form to a new pinnacle. "It was from Haydn," said Mozart, "that I first learned the true way to compose quartets."
In this fourth volume of Haydn's string quartets, Dover completes republication of the composer's major achievements in the form. Full scores of the 12 masterful quartets (six each) of Opp. 20 and 33 exemplify the range and variety of structural invention he brought to the genre. Composed in 1781 and dedicated to the Russian Grand Duke Paul, Op. 33 contains such favorites as the "Joke" and the "Bird" quartets, while the quartets of Op. 20 (1771) are among the most performed and recorded pieces in the repertoire.
Music students, musicians, and Haydn fans will find this inexpensive volume an important addition to their libraries. Large, readable noteheads and ample space for notations and analysis make this a splendid study edition — a treasury of 12 works that clearly demonstrate Haydn's supreme mastery of the form.

About the Author

Austrian composer Joseph Haydn (1732–1809), one of the most prolific and prominent musicians of the Classical era, wrote in every genre. Friend to Mozart and teacher of Beethoven, he standardized the four-movement structure of the quartet, the form for which he is best known.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

ThriftBooks is a fully independent seller of used books, having sold more than 160 million used and new books since we started in 2003. Each quality used book is sorted, graded, shelved and shipped by hand by our team of dedicated employees in our seven warehouses across the US. We have the best selection of books, in the right condition and format, at everyday low prices. We also have a dedicated, US-based Customer Service team, ranked in the top three by Newsweek for Best Customer Service in 2018 and 2019, so you can shop with confidence. We support and invest in our employees, appreciate and value our customers, and truly believe in the power of the written word to educate, energize, and engage readers of all ages and interests.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Thrift Books Global LLC
18300 Cascade Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98188, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee each book that we send you. If you have any problems, please contact
our dedicated customer service department. They will do everything possible to
ensure you are happy with your order.

Shipping Terms

All domestic Standard shipments are distributed from our warehouses by OSM, then handed off to the USPS for final delivery.

2-Day Shipping is delivered by FedEx, which does not deliver to PO boxes.

International shipments are tendered to the local postal service in the destination country for final delivery – We do not use courier services for international deliveries.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 8 business days	4 to 8 business days
First item	US$ 0.00	US$ 0.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.