String Quartet No. 3 (Tchaikovsky)

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The String Quartet No. 3 in E-Flat Minor, by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was composed in 1876, and is the last of his three String Quartets. The first public performance was at a concert on March 18, 1876, although the quartet was performed for the first time at a party at Nikolai Rubinstein's apartment on March 2.

Once, while Tchaikovsky was staying with some friends, they surprised him by bringing in a String Quartet who performed this quartet for him. When they finished playing, Tchaikovsky remarked, "At first I didn't much like the Finale, but now I see that it is quite good."

[edit] Structure

The work is in four movements and is approximately 37 minutes long.

I. Andante Sostenuto - Allegro Moderato

II. Allegretto Vivo e Scherzando

III. Andante Funebre e Doloroso, Ma Con Moto

IV. Finale: Allegro Non Troppo e Risoluto

The Andante Funebre was originally intended to be the second movement, with the Allegretto Vivo e Scherzando as the third, but Tchaikovsky later decided to switch them.