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String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 “Razumovsky”

IV. Allegro molto.

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1806 · C major · 429 bars · 694 chords analysed

The last Razumovsky quartet ends with a blazing fugue.

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: C major, G major, E♭ major, F minor, D♭ major, C♯ minor, D minor, B♭ major, C minor, F major, A♭ major.