Classical String Quartet
Second Movement – Theme and Variations

String Quartet

A chamber work written for a group of four string instruments, consisting of two violins, one viola and one cello.

String quartets became popular during the Classical period. The genre symbolizes four individuals engaging in an intellectual conversation.

A Classical string quartet typically consists of four movements. The styles and ordering of the movements are similar to that of a Classical symphony:

First movement	fast tempo; generally in sonata form
Second movement	slow tempo; more lyrical and song-like; often in ternary form (ABA), theme-and-variations form, or sometimes sonata form
Third movement	dance-like; minuet-and-trio form (scherzo-and-trio for Beethoven)
Fourth movement (Finale)	fast tempo; often light-hearted in mood; generally in rondo form, sonata form, or a mixture of both (sonata-rondo form); theme-and-variations form

Theme and Variations

Consists of an opening theme followed by a number of variations.

Listening

Haydn, String Quartet No. 62 in C major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III: 77

Second Movement – Theme and Variations

7:16 Main theme

Anthem with the theme on the first violin.

The anthem contains two phrases—an antecedent (question) and a consequent (answer), with same length respectively. Both the antecedent and consequent repeat itself in its entirety.

This theme is based on Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (“God Save Francis the Emperor”), a song composed by Haydn in 1797 for Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. It later became the national anthem of Germany.

8:29 Variation I

The theme is played by the second violin, in the original register.

The first violin, in its higher register, plays a decorated countermelody with semiquavers. It features ascending and descending arpeggio passages, with occasional wide leaps. The articulation alternates between staccato and legato bowing.

Viola and cello are silent (tacet).

9:40 Variation II

The theme is played by the cello, one octave lower than the original.

The style of accompaniment is similar to the theme, where the theme is accompanied by the second violin moving in similar rhythm.

The first violin performs a countermelody that features syncopation.

10:59 Variation III

The theme is played by the viola, in the original register.

This variation maintains a thinner accompaniment with occasional rests from different parts. The accompanying melody is characterized by syncopation.

Unlike the theme and the first two variations, where the first phrase is exactly repeated after the first appearance, the repeated phrase is slightly altered by swapping the accompaniment among the different instruments.

12:17 Variation IV

The theme is played by the first violin.

The theme is reharmonized (substitution of one chord by another). Most notably, minor triads are introduced to replace the original major chords in the opening phrase, and many secondary dominants are used as well.

The theme is transposed up an octave after the first phrase.