Beethoven's string quartet op.130 in Bb major was commissioned by Prince Nikolas Galitzin along with the op.127 and op.132 quartets. At the first performance given by the Schuppanzigh Quartet in Vienna on 21st March 1826, the audience complained that the final movement (Grosse/Große Fuge or Grand Fugue) was incomprehensible and too long. Beethoven dismissed his critics with "Cattle! Asses!"; however, publisher Matthias Artaria persuaded him to write a shorter more understandable alternative finale. The original fugue was printed separately as op.133. Beethoven also produced a piano arrangement for four hands (op.134); more recently, Felix Weingartner made a version for string orchestra.
The autograph score for the piano arrangement was recently located in a seminary in America and was sold to an anonymous telephone bidder at Sotheby's in London on Thursday 1st December 2005. The 80 page manuscript fetched US$1.72 million. According to Wikipedia the purchaser was Bruce Kovner who gave it to the Juilliard School of Music.
The Grosse Fuge, which was published in May 1827, after Beethoven's death on 26th March at the Schwarzspanierhaus, has the inscription: Große Fuge, tantôt libre, tantôt recherchée for two Violins, Viola and Violoncello. Dedicated with the deepest veneration to His Imperial Royal Highness the most Eminent Cardinal Rudolph, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, Archbishop of Olmütz, Grand Cross of the Hungarian Order of St. Etienne, by L. van Beethoven, Op.133.
Igor Stravinsky said about the Grosse Fuge: "This absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever."
Uploaded Tuesday, 19-Dec-2006 07:13:25 EST
