Hermann Berens d.ä. (1826−1880)

Grosses Quartett No. 1 in E
(Stråkkvartett e-moll [String quartet in E minor])

opus 78

Print

1. Moderato — Allegro
2. Romanze: Andante larghetto
3. Scherzo: Allegro
4. Finale: Allegro con moto

  • Year of composition: c. 1868
  • Work category: String quartet
  • Dedication: an A.F. Lindblad in Stockholm
  • Duration: Approx. 20-25 min

Examples of printed editions

Aug. Fr. Cranz, Bremen, Ed. no. 108 (parts material, onlys), c. 1868

Location for score and part material

Musik- och teaterbiblioteket (the material includes the printed parts, as well as a handwritten compilation [score] of the printed parts material, made by Martin Tegen on 3 August, 1991)

Description of work

1. Moderato e minor 4/4 (C) 25 bars, Allegro /:92:/96 bars, E major 61 bars, totalt 274 bars
2. Romanze: Andante larghetto C major 3/8 112 bars
3. Scherzo: Allegro E minor 3/4 93 bars, E major 20 bars, Trio: Un poco meno mosso C major 46 bars, Da capo: 91+20 bars, totalt 270 bars
4. Finale: Allegro con moto E major alla breve 110 bars, Pesante cursio E minor 67 bars, E major 66 bars, totalt 243 bars

Work comment

Most likely, this is the string quartet by Berens which received a positive review in the Aftonbladet on 23 February, 1848, however without any mention of Opus number or key.
The parts material was printed c. 1868.

Also in the collection of the Musik- och teaterbiblioteket, this work is labelled Stråkkvartett E-dur (Kvartett, stråkar, nr 1, E-dur) [String Quartet in E major (Quartet, strings, no. 1, in E major]. In the printed parts material, however, the name is 'Grosses Quartett No. 1 in E', which may indicate both major and minor key. For the most part of movement no. 1, the key is E minor (with the exception of the Coda of 61 bars, which is in E major). Furthermore, the main key of the Scherzo is E minor. The usual way of indicating the tonality of a work would be following the key of the first movement, which here is E minor.
Albeit the fact that there was never a second string quartet by Berens, he evidently was planning for one since the print of this Quartet states 'No. 1'.

Considering all these facts, this Quartet should be labelled simply "Stråkkvartett e-moll op 78" [String quartet in E minor, Opus 78].

Media files

References