MOZART STRING QUARTETS
Played by THE
INTERNATlONAL STRING Quartet
IT was only after a second visit to Italy that the young Mozart heard any of the string quartets of the older master, Haydn. That impressed him profoundly, and set him so energetically to Quartet composing that in the month of August, 1773, he produced no fewer than six. In speaking of tthem he always referred to Haydn as his great master in that part of his work. For nine years after that he deserted the form, but returned to it in 1782, the year which saw the successful production of his merry opera, It Seraglio, the Haffner Serenade , and other joyously melodious music. It was in the same year that he married Constanze Weber , a somewhat rash proceeding, as the young couple had practically nothing on which to begin housekeeping. Friends were nearly always ready to come to their assistance, but they were always in difficulties. From then until 1790, he composed String Quartets only intermittently, and the last ones are rightly held in warm affection as among the very best of his music. Three of them were specially composed for the King of Prussia, who acknowledged them not only with a kind personal letter, but with a gift of a gold snuff-box and a sum of money. These three all have specially interesting violoncello parts, out of compliment to his Majesty. But all the String Quartets are so full of Mozart's grace and charm, so rich in melodies, almost any one of which might be chosen to represent him at his bSst, that their unfading popularity is!easy to understand.