Of the few composers who possessed an intrinsic mastery of the string quartet, Haydn was the first and, Hans Keller argues, the greatest. This seminal study of forty-five quartets by one of the leading music critics of his day provides an extraordinarily deep understanding of Haydn's methods and genius.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
This book offers analyses of 45 of Haydn's 60-odd string quartets with the aim of providing interpretive clues for performers. The author, an Austrian-born music critic who lived in England from 1938 until his death last year, had a life-long involvement with the string quartet as both player and teacher. Although Keller's scholarly credentials are not in question, many of his opinions and analytical remarks are both patronizing and debatable, as in the remark "it is impossible for a composer, however great, to write an intrinsic string quartet if he is not himself a quartet player." There are some worthwhile remarks on tempo, texture, articulation, and the like, but they tend to be overwhelmed by Keller's convoluted, discursive prose style. Further, much of the interpretive "advice"e.g., injunctions to play in tuneis insultingly elementary. Susan Kagan, Music Dept., Hunter Coll., CUNY
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"A work of authority and clarity verging on genius. It is a classic."--George Steiner
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the world's great musical books--do buy it !,
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This review is from: The Great Haydn Quartets: Their Interpretation (Hardcover)
As a professional violinist with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields I can assure you that an enormous amount of wisdom,insight and brilliant musical writing is crammed into this book. If you want to know what insightful musical writing can be buy this tome!
9 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Virtually worthless for the listener,
This review is from: The Great Haydn Quartets: Their Interpretation (Paperback)
Perhaps if you are a performer there might be something worthwhile in this book. But as a guide to listening to and comprehending the Haydn quartets, this book is virtually worthless. Once you get past the author's self-congratulatory breast-beating and his unsupported opinions about how few ensembles can play these pieces well (always excepting, of course, ensembles trained by the author), there's precious little left.
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