Haydneum Concerts in Eszterháza – String Quartets by the Haydn brothers and Boccherini with the Salomon String Quartet

‘A composition written for solo string instruments, typically two violins, a viola, and a cello; it is widely viewed as the highest form of chamber music’ – this is how the English Grove Lexicon, one of the most significant comprehensive music dictionaries in the world, defines a string quartet. The definition sounds like a compliment in disguise, even though it does not even mention how quickly this genre acquired its exceptional significance.

The various combinations of string instruments represented an exceptionally fashionable sound in the Baroque period; until the middle of the 18^th century, it was common practice to accompany all musical ensembles with a continuo, which is an instrument suitable for playing chords. However, one of the most typical characteristics of a string quartet is that it does not feature such a harmonic backdrop, providing the clarity and structure of consonance purely through the texture of the voices. There is little doubt that the most significant master of virtuosic four-part harmonies was Joseph Haydn. His string quartets published in 1782 and given the number Op. 33 already qualify as textbook examples of the genre at its height, while his six works published in 1797 under Op. 76 and dedicated to Count Erdődy included significant pieces such as the String Quartet in C Major, an adaptation of the imperial anthem. Haydn’s creations are contrasted by the works of his younger brother, Michael, and those of the Italian Luigi Boccherini, who settled in Spain, both of whom created pieces that reflect the more melodic, clear, gallant tastes of the genre.