Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - String Quartet No. 15, K. 421 [With score]

-Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791)
-Performers: Quatuor Mosaïques
String Quartet No. 15 in d minor, K. 421, written in 1783 [Haydn Quartet II]
00:06 - I. Allegro moderato
12:15 - II. Andante
19:40 - III. Menuetto. Allegretto
23:29 - IV. Allegretto ma non troppo
The second quartet in the famous series of six dedicated to Haydn -- and the only mature Mozart string quartet in a minor key -- commands our attention at the outset (Allegro moderato) with the drop of an octave from the first violin that ushers in its plaintive main subject. The contrasting second subject is a songful melody over a throbbing background. Mozart shows how much he learned from Haydn (and Bach) in the development, which features a good deal of contrapuntal passagework. Throughout this movement, harmonies are stretched out before being resolved, increasing the emotional tension. The nocturnal slow movement (Andante), in ABA song form and triple meter, is remarkable for the recurring rising three-note figure in the accompaniment, particularly from the cello, that expands the lovely main melody. In the middle section, this is transmuted into a series of little dissonant stabs of pain. The stately minuet (Allegretto) is both elegant and deeply, gravely serious; the middle section, with its dancing first violin over a pizzicato accompaniment, provides the greatest possible contrast. The finale (Allegro ma non troppo) is a set of variations on a theme in a 6/8 siciliano rhythm. The prevailing mood is bittersweet, the harmonies rich, the invention consistently fine. A violin figure that appeared at the start of the movement, resembling the call of a cricket, returns to dominate the coda as the music rises in emotional pitch and then sinks into resigned peace.
[allmusic.com]

[@joeygu]

6:53 - 7:07: when you think it's going to modulate to D major any moment, but it goes right back to minor... a very emotional moment

[@Apyyre]

10:52 - 12:10 Stunning, brillant, no words
11:52 - 12:04 the bass line...

[@whatadamnusername]

1:23-1:57 It's almost impossible for me to not close my eyes and sway and nod my head to this part, absolutely gorgeous. We're quite blessed that Mozart employed this type of chord progression so often.

[@DamonJHK]

00:06 - I. Allegro moderato
12:15 - II. Andante
19:40 - III. Menuetto. Allegretto
23:29 - IV. Allegretto ma non troppo

[@mukilnarayanan]

This string quartet is remarkable! I love the melancholy nature of the first and fourth movements and the brief shimmer of happiness in the second and third movements!

[@TimondeNood]

The first movement of this one has always made a lasting impression on me.. thank you for uploading!

[@paulwl3159]

Played very slowly but this allows the players to really bring out the expressive qualities of this masterpiece.

[@clubpenguinfan1928]

I'm a beginner when it comes to listening to quartets but that modulation at 4:20 keeps blowing my mind every time

[@clarinetjo]

Clearly the best recording. The Quatuor Mosaïques is without equal for Haydn and Mozart. Thank you for your work !

[@stepanjandl9275]

I totally agree. However, the Emerson String Quartet recording is also really good (in my opinion)! :)

[@polgomezriquelme7505]

The Trio at 21:15 is delightful!

[@dbsk06]

youve got a new sub. thanks so much for uploading the music scores as well! perfect for musicians who actually want to see the sheets

[@Grapadapapa]

Thank you for uploading this!

[@mersouled]

The trio in this minuetto is funny, folksy, absurd and poignant- all at the same time! Adorable & genius ❤

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks so much for posting!

[@jonathaneffemey4892]

Thanks so much for uploading.

[@galacticmess7050]

33:10 that was one weird and super interesting way to end a piece, not gonna lie

[@aarondrayer548]

Zixi Liu in my opinion is really great and is really Bachish

[@grimble4564]

It feels like the Mozart equivalent of a bumpy landing

[@jujoatechev]

11:40 - 12:10 WOW

[@michaels7889]

This is a beautifully balanced quartet performing and it is really helpful to have the score scrolling to enable careful study. That is especially so with such an enjoyable interpretation's mood shifts.

[@michaels7889]

In fact this is a model performance!

[@jasonroberts6666]

The God of music

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

After Beethoven, of course.

[@jasonroberts6666]

@@eduardoguerraavila8329 no no...Mozart is first...then Beethoven. Then JS Bach.

[@stravinskyfan]

@@eduardoguerraavila8329 nah

[@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtracks]

Perfect! The last movement is the best one!

[@WillemVanTwillertOrganist]

thank you for upload.

[@mosz1854]

Thank you so much, Maestro J.H.K. !!

[@comic4relief]

Thank you, Wölfie!

[@JulienJazz]

Bravo!! 👏

[@mahejabeenfatima2128]

Such an incredible piece ever written by Mozart.

[@elibamberger5104]

This reminds me of bartok's quartets in the way he develops the theme in the first movement.

[@datetley]

Andante stays with me the longest, it's like something from another plane

[@elvergonzales9850]

Amazing Quartet.

[@comic4relief]

An anecdote:
This piece was to be played at a day of festivities along with other music. Originally it ended on d-minor. They were rehearsing and the emperor said something like, 'Mozart, that sounds a bit gloomy for this affair.' Mozart went over to the music desk and wrote a sharp # or two on the end of the viola part, making the ending D-major.

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

this is the mood of salzburg with mist and lockdown right now

[@alexandrabrorsson1265]

Please stop talking about lockdown in the comment section. So generic.

[@letsschubertiad1966]

The last movement reminds me of Schubert

[@akarshsain8263]

Please also make video on Flute and Harp Concerto in Cmaj by Mozart.
Thank you for this nice video ☺️

[@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtracks]

You find it in my channel, but without the score.

[@ianw1976]

Fun fact: Mozart's wife claimed that parts of the third movement were inspired by the sounds she made during labour.

[@lcdream4213]

*hhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.mp4*

[@gerrycoogan6544]

True dat!

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

This is an overblown myth.

[@danal81]

Fun fact: that’s bullshit.

[@DanielFahimi]

@@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven Myth? More like absolute rubbish! Myth is way too generous for something that is so obviously bs.

[@hyo6385]

4:27
19:40
고급

[@pojoboing]

7:08
7:11
15:45
16:00
27:21

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

This seems to be the first of Mozart’s string quartets to use any pizzicato.

[@blackforestt3717]

no

[@authenticmusic4815]

Does anyone know what form is the last movement in? I'm not sure

[@antoineroche2073]

It is a set of variations on a theme. The theme, like each variation, takes 24 bars (8 + 16), repeated twice. The last variation acts as a coda.

[@authenticmusic4815]

@@antoineroche2073 oh, I see, thank you

[@lotuschan55]

Oh Mozaydn!

[@vigokovacic3488]

Maybe even Hart. Hah.

[@authenticmusic4815]

@@vigokovacic3488 lol

[@edgarmartinez5305]

19:41

[@kofiLjunggren]

2:09 Dvorak moment

[@kofiLjunggren]

True

[@mitocondria10]

I've heard a sample of this in some pop-song, but I have no clue which one was it! Help?

[@edwardweaver1467]

The second Of the Haydn quartets.

[@LavaMLG]

Violist is impressive

[@jamesonrichards5105]

1:20 6:53- 8:58- 10:42 22:23

[@XochitlaGFM]

I love this song

[@DanielFahimi]

It iS NoT A SoNg! iT Is a pIeCe! Just kidding!

[@authenticmusic4815]

Ah yess, I love it as well.. Just listen to those lyrics!! "F" "p" "crescendo" "andante" "trio"..

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

@@DanielFahimi bLaSpHeMy!

[@tejasnair3399]

32:36

[@Metadeth1997]

Is this played in Db ? Cuz it sounds a halftone off

[@authenticmusic4815]

Historical tuning

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

It isn't Db. It is ALMOST Db. 442 Hz.

[@mightyNosewings]

Opening sounds a lot like Don Giovanni.

[@nickn2794]

What part precisely? Mozart liked to quote himself haha. He was very proud of his work.

[@concerned1]

What is it about staccato that renders it so anti-romantic? Is it because it doesn’t dwell on itself?

[@LTaifu]

29:30
31:27

[@williamdcowie]

Does anyone know why they are playing so flat? Is it part of the convention since its obviously done on purpose. looking for any kind of insight.

[@aarondrayer548]

William Cowie what do you exactly mean by flat? like in pitch?

[@williamdcowie]

@@aarondrayer548 yes, the recording is about 50 cents below the written score. I have heard before that conventional tuning of A 440 wasn't established until the 1800s and I was wondering whether this ensemble took that into consideration making it sound the way it does.

[@aarondrayer548]

William Cowie it might be the quartets choice

[@LachlanTyrrell2003]

@@aarondrayer548 yeah it sounds in between C# and D minor

[@DanielFahimi]

@@LachlanTyrrell2003 That is Mozart's tuning. A=422

Me lembra muito Beethoven

[@user-wo2en8ms3k]

I think it's piece that feels hopeless.

[@alkishadjinicolaou5831]

I have never understood quartets)

[@ClassicalMusicAndSoundtracks]

What do you mean?

[@kwastormayt]

do you understand potato?

[@alkishadjinicolaou5831]

@@kwastormayt what do you mean?

[@kwastormayt]

​@@alkishadjinicolaou5831 what I mean is you don't have to understand potato to like it

[@runlinli8965]

31:12