Pieces › Bedřich Smetana

String Quartet No. 1 “From My Life”

4 movements

Bedřich Smetana · 1876 · E minor · 892 bars · 819 chords analysed

An autobiography in music: the finale breaks off with a high, piercing E — the ringing in Smetana's ears that announced his deafness.

A string quartet — two violins, viola and cello — is often called a conversation between four friends. With only four voices, every chord is easy to see and hear, which makes quartets a wonderful way to study harmony.

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