DCCCVI. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: String Quartet #19 in C Major, K. 465

DCCCVI. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)

String Quartet #19 in C Major, K. 465 (1785)
1. Adagio -- Allegro
2. Andante cantabile
3. Menuetto. Trio
4. Allegro molto
David Radzynski, violin
Dumitru Pocitari, violin
Miriam Hartman, viola
Emanuele Silvestri, cello
(28:52)

Nicknamed the "Dissonance." An understanding of the term appoggiatura will help.

The quartet is filled with them -- notes that hang just above one of the notes in the chord tone. When the music goes by quickly, you don't hear them as dissonant; they simply add flavor.

However, in these slow opening 22 bars, the appoggitura are held for longer time periods, and therefore one hears strange harmonies before they resolve.

First movement

The cello starts on the tonic; the viola A-Flat resolves to G; the second violin's E-Flat resolves to D (the ninth); and the first's A resolves to G. Meanwhile, the harmony sounds exotic and unsettled -- yes, even dissonant!

It is not until the 16th bar that we hear a continuous dominant G, which will lead into the C Major Allegro.

Second movement

A typically gorgeous cantabile melody.

A lovely feature of this movement is the imitation:

Later, the motif is imitated in three voices:

Third movement

Typical menuet & trio.

The Trio is in the parallel minor (C) but the first phrase cadences on E-Flat Major, the parallel major of C Minor!

Fourth movement

A rousing rondo finale: