Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

I. Assai sostenuto

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1825 · A minor · 264 bars · 622 chords analysed

Its slow movement, “Heiliger Dankgesang”, is a hymn of thanks Beethoven wrote after recovering from a serious illness.

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: A minor, F major, D minor, G minor, C minor, C major, E minor, A major.