Grand Fugue in B flat major Op. 133
[str orch] duration: 17'
Description
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Große Fuge (Great Fugue) in B-flat major, op. 133, is considered one of the most daring and visionary works in music history.
Beethoven initially composed the fugue in 1825 as the final movement of his String Quartet op. 130. However, he yielded to the wishes of his publisher, who found the musical language difficult to grasp – and thus difficult to sell. Consequently, Beethoven composed a new finale and published the fugue as a standalone work in 1827. With its radical harmony, complex counterpoint, and dramatic intensity, the composition shattered the boundaries of its time. It was not until the 20th century that its reception truly shifted.
Among numerous arrangements, the version for string orchestra by Felix Weingartner is the most widely performed. The Austrian composer and conductor is renowned for his interpretations and arrangements of Beethoven’s repertoire. In this arrangement, Weingartner creates a setting that makes the fugue’s dynamic contrasts and dramatic power even more visceral through the addition of double bass parts.
MM 2104530
hire material
Description
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Große Fuge (Great Fugue) in B-flat major, op. 133, is considered one of the most daring and visionary works in music history.
Beethoven initially composed the fugue in 1825 as the final movement of his String Quartet op. 130. However, he yielded to the wishes of his publisher, who found the musical language difficult to grasp – and thus difficult to sell. Consequently, Beethoven composed a new finale and published the fugue as a standalone work in 1827. With its radical harmony, complex counterpoint, and dramatic intensity, the composition shattered the boundaries of its time. It was not until the 20th century that its reception truly shifted.
Among numerous arrangements, the version for string orchestra by Felix Weingartner is the most widely performed. The Austrian composer and conductor is renowned for his interpretations and arrangements of Beethoven’s repertoire. In this arrangement, Weingartner creates a setting that makes the fugue’s dynamic contrasts and dramatic power even more visceral through the addition of double bass parts.