Structure
The composition consists of four movements:
- I. Allegro
- II. Allegro moderato
- III. Allegro non più moderato, ma agitato e con fuoco
- IV. Presto
Smetana said, that the second quartet takes up from where the first finished: "...after the catastrophe, it represents the turbulence of music in a person who had lost his hearing". The musical construction and language are entirely new, unusual. The composition was at first received by the part of listeners and critics with hesitation, and even with objections. However, thanks to many successful interpretations (Czech Quartet, Smetana Quartet, Janáček Quartet etc.) the quartet today belongs to the great values of Czech music history and culture.
Read more about this topic: String Quartet No. 2 (Smetana)
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