Listening Journal #9: Haydn String Quartet

Today I will be analyzing a string quartet by Haydn, specifically a fast one. The work that I will be analyzing is called "String Quartet in B flat Op.1 No.1"



Musical Elements:

• Triple Compound Meter
• Major (Bb) for majority of the work, then minor for a small section
• Homophonic  texture
• Tempo: Allegro 
• 4 string instruments, Violin 1 and 2, Viola, Cello
• Cresendo on the first part of each phrase and decrescendo on the second part

Musical Structure:

• Very segmented, periodic structure
• Each phrase is about 4 measures
• Musical structure and rhythms are consistent but are on different pitches the second time
• B section changes tonality for a couple of measures which leads to the A section.

Musical Context: 

• Haydn
• Classical era