The Große Fuge (or Grosse Fuge, also known in English as Great Fugue or Grand Fugue), Op.133, is a single-movement composition for string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Große Fuge originally served as the final movement of his Quartet No. 13 in B♭ major (Op. 130), written in 1825. But Beethoven's publisher, who was concerned about the dismal commercial prospects of the piece, urged Beethoven to replace the fugue with a new finale. Beethoven complied, and the Große Fuge was published separately in 1827 as Op. 133. It was composed when Beethoven was almost completely deaf, and is considered to be part of his set of late quartets. It was first performed in 1826, as the finale of the B♭ quartet, by the Schuppanzigh Quartet.
An immense double fugue, it was universally condemned by contemporary critics. A reviewer writing for Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung in 1826 described the fugue as "incomprehensible, like Chinese" and "a confusion of Babel". However, critical opinion of the work has risen steadily since the beginning of the 20th century. The work is now considered among Beethoven's greatest achievements. Igor Stravinsky said "[it is] an absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever."
Analysts describe the Große Fuge as "inaccessible", "eccentric", "filled with paradoxes", and "Armageddon". "[It] stands out as the most problematic single work in Beethoven's output and … doubtless in the entire literature of music," writes critic and musicologist Joseph Kerman of the fugue.
Große Fuge (or Grosse Fuge, aka in English as Great Fugue or Grand Fugue), Op.133. (1825)
Alban Berg Quartett (15:45)
Online essay @ classicalnotes.net Visual presentation (17:24) The Fugue's structure
Sections:
1. 00:00 - Overatura:
2. 00:57 - 1st fugue (leaping subject)
3. 04:56 - 2nd fugue (softer, murmuring)
07:28 - Transition - bouncy march
4. 08:03 - 3rd fugue (in cello)
12:07 - Transition - bouncy march again
5. 14:03 - Recap (of Overatura) & Coda
15:51 (end)
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