Sergei Prokofiev's String Quartet No. 1 in B minor, Op. 50 (1931) was commissioned by the
Library of Congress.
The Quartet was first performed in
Washington, D.C., on 25 April 1931 by the Brosa Quartet
[Nice, David (2003). ''Prokofiev: From Russia to the West, 1891-1935''. Yale University Press. Page 293.] and in
Moscow on 9 October 1931 by the Roth Quartet.
The string quartet is in three movements, lasting around 20–25 minutes.
Movements
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Allegro
Allegro may refer to:
Common meanings
* Allegro (music), a tempo marking indicate to play fast, quickly and bright
* Allegro (ballet), brisk and lively movement
Artistic works
* L'Allegro (1645), a poem by John Milton
* ''Allegro'' (Satie), an ...
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Andante molto''
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Andante
Andante may refer to:
Arts
* Andante (tempo), a moderately slow musical tempo
* ''Andante'' (manga), a shōjo manga by Miho Obana
* "Andante" (song), a song by Hitomi Yaida
* "Andante, Andante", a 1980 song by ABBA from ''Super Trouper''
* ' ...
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Analysis
The work is distinctive in that its key, B minor, is just a semitone below the limits of the
viola and
cello range. Another distinctive feature is that the finale is a slow movement, which is highly intense in emotion and full of sweeping melodies.
Prokofiev had liked the finale so much that he transcribed a version of it for string orchestra, as Op. 50a, and included a piano transcription in his pieces as Op. 52.
See also
*
Prokofiev - String Quartet No. 2 in F major
*
Prokofiev - Chamber Music
*
Prokofiev - List of Compositions
References
External links
*
Video - Prokofiev String Quartet No 1 - Complete (23:14).*
Prokofiev String Quartet No 1 in B minor, Opus 50 (1931).
Video - Prokofiev String Quartet No 1 mvt 1/audio (07:20) Allegro.Video - Prokofiev String Quartet No 1 mvt 2/audio (07:10) Andante molto.Video - Prokofiev String Quartet No 1 mvt 3/audio (08:40) Andante.
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Chamber music by Sergei Prokofiev
Prokofiev 1
20th-century classical music
1931 compositions
Compositions in B minor