The Death and the Maiden Quartet, written in 1824 by Franz Schubert, just after the composer became aware of his ruined health, and D. 810 in Otto Erich Deutsch's thematic catalog of Schubert's works, is a string quartet in four movements: 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (January 31, 1797 – November 19, 1828), was an Austrian composer, considered the last master of the Viennese Classical school and one of the earliest proponents of musical Romanticism. ... Otto Erich Deutsch (September 5, 1883 - November 23, 1967) was an Austrian musicologist. ... The resident string quartet of the Library of Congress in 1963 A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string instruments—usually two violins, a viola and cello—or a piece written to be performed by such a group. ...

1. Allegro, in D minor and common time
2. Andante con moto, in G minor and divided common (2:2) time
3. Scherzo: Allegro molto, in D minor and 3:4 time
4. Presto, in D minor in 6:8

The opening movement is, along with that of the preceding and next quartet and that of his string quintet, among the most extended and substantial in his chamber music output, if not in his output as a whole. It is a sonata form movement whose exposition encompasses three main key regions, D minor, F major and A minor. A scherzo (plural scherzi) is a name given to a piece of music or a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony. ... The term Presto can refer to: a musical term indicating a fast tempo 1989 album by Rush the layout engine used in the Opera web browser Presto Studios - game development company Presto, Bolivia Hyundai Presto - a car The term has also been used is also used for centuries to command... The String Quintet in C major, D. 956, op. ... Sonata form refers to both the standard layout of an entire musical composition and more specifically to the standardized form of the first movement. ...

The second movement is a theme — taken from his macabre song Der Tod und Das Mädchen (D 531 in Deutsch's catalog) and five variations, with coda. Franz Schubert, composer Death and the Maiden (German: Der Tod und das Mädchen) is a 1817 song composed by Franz Schubert. ... Coda sign Coda (Italian for tail; from the Latin cauda), in music, is a passage which brings a movement or a separate piece to a conclusion through prolongation. ...

The third movement's main theme can also be heard in one of a set of piano dances; its lyrical D major trio varies its 'repeats'.

The relentless finale-tarantella is a sonata-rondo in form — a rondo whose first episode returns as the last, and whose central section contains elements of development. Its coda promises major-mode triumph, and snatches it away. The tarantella (tarentule, tarentella, tarantel) is a dance in 6/8 time characterised by the rapid whirling of couples. ...

This is one of the quartet works, along with Beethoven's quartetto serioso that Mahler arranged for use by a string orchestra, mostly by doubling some of the cello parts with double basses. Ludwig van Beethovens Opus 95, his String Quartet No. ... Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and conductor. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ...

Appearances in Film

Besides the 1994 film Death and the Maiden, Schubert's quartet has been used in the score of at least the following:

• The 1996 Russian film President i yego zhenshchina
• The 1983 French film Le Bâtard
• The 1996 Jane Campion film Portrait of a Lady

External link

A website with MIDIs of the quartet