Serenade for Violin, Viola and Cello (Beethoven)

The Serenade in D major for Violin, Viola and Cello, Op. 8, is a string trio composition by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was written from 1796-97, and published in 1797 by Artaria in Vienna.

Struture

The composition is in six movements

1. Marcia: Allegro (4/4) – Adagio (3/4)
2. Menuetto: Allegretto (3/4)
3. Adagio - Scherzo: Allegro molto - Adagio - Allegro molto - Adagio, in D minor (2/4)
4. Allegretto alla Polacca, in F major (3/4)
5. Andante quasi allegretto (2/4) - Variation 1 - Variation 2 - Variation 3 - Variation 4 (2/4) - Allegro (6/8) - Tempo I (2/4)
6. Marcia: Allegro (4/4)

A typical performance takes around 26-30 minutes.

Transcriptions

In 1803, Franz Xaver Heinz Klein arranged this piece for viola and piano. It was published as the Notturno for Viola and Piano in D major, Op. 42, with Beethoven incorrectly credited as its author (although he did make corrections to Franz' work).^[1]

In his book Classic Music: Expression, Form, and Style, Leonard G. Ratner cites the fourth movement as a representative example of the polonaise. ^[2]

References

Notes

Sources

• Anderson, Keith (2006). Beethoven: String Trios (Complete), Vol. 1 (CD). Naxos Records. 8.557895. 
• Berger, Melvin (2001). Guide to Chamber Music. Dover. 
• Daw, Stephen (1998). Beethoven: The Complete String Trios (PDF) (CD). Hyperion Records. CDD22069. 
• Ratner, Leonard G (1980). Classic Music: Expression, Form, and Style. Schirmer Books. 
• Silvertrust, Raymond (2016). The Silvertrust Guide to String Trios (PDF). Edition Silvertrust. 
• Thayer, Alexander Wheelock (1921). The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven. 1. New York: The Beethoven Association. 
• Watson, Angus (2012). Beethoven's Chamber Music in Context. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-716-9. 

External links

• Serenade for String Trio: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)