Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 In D Major, Op. 11

Introduction

String Quartet No. 1 in D major was the first of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's three string quartets, and his Opus 11.

The quartet has 4 movements:

• 1. Moderato e semplice (D major)
• 2. Andante cantabile (B♭ major)
• 3. Scherzo. Allegro non tanto e con fuoco – Trio (D minor)
• 4. Finale. Allegro giusto – Allegro vivace (D major)

The melancholic Andante cantabile movement has become famous, and was founded on a folk-song the composer heard whistled by a house painter. When the quartet was performed at a tribute concert to Leo Tolstoy, the author was said to have been brought to tears by this movement.

The quartet was premiered in Moscow on 16/28 March 1871, with an ensemble consisting of Ferdinand Laub and Ludvig Minkus, violins; Pryanishnikov, viola; and Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, cello.