Pieces › Ludwig van Beethoven

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

IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1825 · A major · 46 bars · 112 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 major, E major, A minor, D minor.