Summary of Movements
1. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo (121 measures, cut time, about 7 minutes in length)
An intense, poignant fugue, based on the following subject:
Richard Wagner said this movement: "reveals the most melancholy sentiment expressed in music".
2. Allegro molto vivace (198 measures, 6/8 meter, about 3 minutes in length)
A delicate dance in compound duple meter in the key of D major, in compact sonata form based on the following folklike theme:
3. Allegro moderato — Adagio (11 measures, common time, about 45 seconds in length)
In the spirit of recitativo obbligato following the key of B minor; the modulation from B minor to E major functions as a short introduction to:
4. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile — Più mosso — Andante moderato e lusinghiero — Adagio — Allegretto — Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice — Allegretto (286 measures counting the repeats, 2/4 meter, about 14 minutes in length)
This, the central movement of the quartet, is a set of 7 variations (6 complete and 1 incomplete, with coda) on the following simple theme in A major:
This movement is the apotheosis of the 'Grand Variation' form from Beethoven's late period.
5. Presto (545 measures counting the repeats, cut time,about 5 and a half minutes in length) In E major, this is a brilliant Scherzo (though in duple rather than triple time), based on the following simple idea:
6. Adagio quasi un poco andante (28 measures, 3/4 meter, about 2 minutes in length)
In G♯ minor, this movement is in bar form with a coda, which serves as a slow, somber introduction to:
7. Allegro (388 measures, cut time, about 6 and a half minutes in length)
The finale is in sonata form and returns to the home key of C♯ minor. The first subject has two main ideas:
The violent rhythm in this subject is contrasted with the soaring, lyrical second theme:
Read more about this topic: String Quartet No. 14 (Beethoven)
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