Felix Mendelssohn - String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 44, No. 1

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) - String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op.44, No. 1 (1838)
I. Molto allegro vivace [0:00]
II. Menuetto. Un poco allegretto [12:51]
III. Andante espressivo ma con moto [18:24]
IV. Finale. Presto con brio [23:49]
Emerson String Quartet (2004)
The String Quartet No. 3 in D major is the first of Mendelssohn's three Op. 44 string quartets, which he dedicated to the Crown Prince of Sweden. The work is in four movements and typically lasts around 30 minutes.
"The first of Felix Mendelssohn's Three Quartets, Op. 44, was in fact the last to be composed, being finished some 13 months after he first began work on the set. But this String Quartet No. 3 in D major, Op. 44, No. 1, which bears the date July 24, 1838 (but, like the other Op. 44 works, was revised a bit before going to print in 1839), seems to have been Mendelssohn's own favorite among the three, and so it merited the No. 1 slot. (Numbering and order of composition rarely go hand-in-hand in Mendelssohn's catalog: his two earlier quartets, Opp. 12 and 13, for example, were composed two years apart in the 'wrong' order, and the ordering of the symphonies is entirely out of whack.) The D major Quartet was first heard in February 1839 and, although there are many who would place its E minor companion piece (Op. 44, No. 2) above it on the musical totem-pole, Mendelssohn's belief that people would cherish it for its unusual 'passion' (the composer's word, in a letter to his violinist friend Ferdinand David) has, over the years, proved well-founded.
The quartet has four movements, strung together in the same order as are the movements of the other two Op. 44 quartets: sonata-allegro -- scherzo -- slow movement -- finale. The soaring first violin melody, with the help of the quietly simmering second violin and viola and sure-footed 'thunks' from the cello, that opens the Molto allegro vivace is as warm and full-blooded as a quartet idea can get; the second theme is, however, cast in the rather more subdued region of F sharp minor (B minor in the recapitulation), and maintains a dignified homophonic chorale tone.
Mendelssohn moves a step backward, historically-speaking, and substitutes a Menuetto for a scherzo-proper (the minuet itself being the movement that the scherzo was originally the substitute for: a nod from Mendelssohn in the direction of the eighteenth-century traditions that were, and would always be, his musical lifeline). Marked Un poco allegretto, this is well-bred, genteel music; some twirling first violin eighth notes, taken up almost half-heartedly by the other instruments, however, save the music from collapsing from the weight of too many good manners.
The Andante espressivo con moto slow movement in B minor has a magical texture: transparent pizzicati from the viola and cello, a continuous light staccato in sixteenth notes from the second violin, and a taut tune in the first violin that every so often joins the second and its staccati, as, in fact, the lower two instruments later do as well.
Something of a gigue found its way into the Presto con brio finale; or perhaps instead of a gigue it is the same snappy-rhythm buoyancy that fills the finale of the famous E minor Violin Concerto (1844) that we are hearing. The first violin part certainly sometimes sounds as though Mendelssohn was thinking violin concerto when he wrote it!"
(source: AllMusic)

[@beeshin9945]

The canon part in finale part of 1st movement shows the genius of mendelssohn

[@franciscocastillomata9786]

Paradójicamente el uso de procedimientos contrapuntísticos en sus composiciones hizo que fuera poco estimado entre sus contemporáneos!

[@brkahn]

So many 'reminds' :D

[@dacoconutnut9503]

Great 👍🏿

[@Tovify]

brilliant work ! thx

[@brianbernstein3826]

Reminds me of Mendelsohn’s third quartet

[@Kwemony]

bruh

[@arionthedeer7372]

Well wouldn’t you know

[@dexteritea2591]

Good analogy

[@garrettwarren5944]

it might seem crazy what I'm boutta say

[@TimondeNood]

wow that third movement

[@jeanparke9373]

That is my absolute favourite music by Mendelssohn ever! It reminds me of three geese (upper strings) gently flying into a sunset (cello pizz).

[@VassilikiKravari]

It is magic...

[@erika6651]

This structural adherence and occasional phrasing associated with the 18th century makes the piece feel backwards, but there is still a touch of a Romantic poet who was familiar with Beethoven's later works. The menuetto for instance feels more like a spiritua journey than a throwback. I still wish Mendelssohn explored more, but his music is enjoyable nevertheless.

[@SPscorevideos]

Third movement ending reminds my the ending of his Hebrides Overture. Right?

[@farrelpermadi5471]

Third movement ending reminds my the ending of his Hebrides Overture. Right?

[@nomaybeyes5681]

It does to me as well!

[@kermit979797]

The finale reminds me of the Italian Symphony’s first movement

[@loganjonah9575]

You probably dont care at all but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly forgot my login password. I would love any help you can offer me

[@joaquincody6949]

@Logan Jonah instablaster :)

[@loganjonah9575]

@Joaquin Cody Thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@loganjonah9575]

@Joaquin Cody It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my account !

[@joaquincody6949]

@Logan Jonah glad I could help xD

[@marcor6385]

Second movement reminds Mendelssohn's Second Piano Concerto Op. 40 Third Movement.

[@matthewbak5185]

I. Molto Allegro Vivace- D Major
II. Menuetto: Un Poco Allegretto- D Major, Trio- B Minor
III. Andante Espressivo Ma Con Moto- B Minor
IV. Finale: Presto Con Brio- D Major

[@orin4654]

the opening sounds like dvorak lol

[@rifonaraft8826]

8:13 11:36

[@catherinethibault4194]

18:18