Mozart String Quartet No.14 in G, Third and Fourth Movements | Cleveland Orchestra musicians

DIGITAL PROGRAM NOTE

III. Andante cantabile, in C major

Composed: 1782

Premiered: Unknown

This is the first time The Cleveland Orchestra has performed this work in concert

Scored for two violins, viola, and cello   

Recorded at Severance Hall in Cleveland on July 15, 2020, featuring:

The Omni Quartet:
Jung-Min Amy Lee, violin
Alicia Koelz, violin
Joanna Patterson Zakany, viola
Tanya Ell, cello

Background: Shortly after moving to Vienna, in 1781, Mozart grew inspired by Haydn’s “Russian” quartets and began working on his own set of six string quartets, which he would later dedicate to the senior composer. In December 1782, Mozart completed the first of these pieces, his String Quartet No. 14, a composition that earned the nickname “Spring” because of its cheerful spirit. Upon hearing the work, Haydn famously confessed to Mozart’s father: “Before God and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name.” In the work’s slow and dramatic third movement, Mozart’s primary focus is on the first violin — moving from low notes in the register to high. The final movement foreshadows Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, written six years later, with its four-note theme and fugal-like contrapuntal melody. Mozart even manages a nod to Haydn’s String Quartet in E-flat major with his ending, strong and conclusive chords giving way to several beats of near silence.

Interesting Note: According to Mozart’s own records, he purchased a pet starling in May 1784, several years after moving to Vienna. He called the bird Vogel Staar, which is the German name for the species. Also transcribed into his notebook were two sketches of the opening bars to the Allegretto movement of his recently completed Piano Concerto No. 17: the original line from his score and a rendition sung by his starling, which is nearly identical to Mozart’s version.