Quartet in E flat, Op. 127 played by The Stratton String Quartet:
George Stratton (violin) ; Edwin Virgo (violin) ; Watson Forbes
(viola) ; John Moore (cello)
Beethoven's Quartet in E flat, Op. 127, was commissioned by Prince Galitzin-to whom it is dedicated-in 1822. But Beethoven was entirely occupied with his Ninth Symphony and was unable to begin work on the quartet until 1824, when staying among the pinewoods of Baden.
' In it we find ', says Vincent d'Indy, ' the crowning expression of that love of nature of which he gave such wonderful evidence in the course of his career.'
It is in four movements, all of which are built on elaborate lines. Particularly noteworthy is the second movement, Adagio ma non troppo, which consists of a theme and five variations.