The String Quartet through Beethoven and since Debussy

The string quartet has served as a significant means of expression for composers since the mid-eighteenth century. This course explores the forces contributing to the string quartet's preeminence in the world of chamber music. After exploring the development of the string quartet up until Beethoven's late quartets, the course will chart a trajectory through select works from the twentieth century up until the present. We will explore how the repertory transformed and how unique artistic voices harnessed innovative sounds and cultural forces to continue a vibrant format of chamber music.