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String Quartet No. 14 in C♯ minor, Op. 131

V. Presto

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1826 · E major · 500 bars · 597 chords analysed

Seven movements played without a break. Schubert is said to have asked to hear it on his deathbed.

Beethoven's 16 string quartets trace his whole life. The six of Op. 18 (1798–1800) master the classical style he inherited from Haydn and Mozart; the middle quartets stretch it; the late quartets (1825–26), written when he was completely deaf, are among the most searching music ever composed.

Keys visited: E major, G♯ minor, A major.