String Quintet in C, Op. 29
(in four movements) and Fugue for String Quartet, Op. 137 played by the Menges String Quintet-Isolde Menges (violin) ; Beatrice Carrelle (violin) ; John Yewe-Dyer (viola) ; Alfred de Reyghere (viola) ;
Ivor James (cello)
Beethoven wrote only one original string quintet, the Op. 29 in C major. He arranged, however, three other works for this combination. The C major Quintet was composed in 1801 and therefore belongs to Beethoven's first period. It is sometimes called the ' Storm ' Quintet because of the semi-quaver passages against the tremolo of the accompaniment in the finale.
' The storm is certainly a dramatic climax to a very beautiful work ', says Marion Scott , 'beautiful both from its themes and the exquisite art with which music and its medium are identified.'