String Quartet No.13 in A minor - Nikolai Myaskovsky

Performed by the Taneyev Quartet

I - Moderato - Tranquillamente: 0:00
II - Presto fantastico - Meno mosso, ma molto appassionato - Tempo I: 6:50
III - Andante con moto e molto cantabile: 12:33
IV - Molto vivo, energico - Meno mosso e un più cantabile - Tempo I: 19:23

Myaskovsky's String Quartet No.13 was composed between 1949-50, being his last work before his death in August of 1950. It was permiered in October 21 of 1950, performed by the Beethoven Quartet (to whom the work is also dedicated). In order to understand better this work, let's give some biographical context. After the second world war, Myaskovsky held great reputation, was awarded the laureate as a People’s Artist of the USSR in 1946.

Shortly came the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the October revolution in 1947, in which the state comissioned several works to the greatest composers of the time to celebrate this event, Myaskovsky among them. The composer wrote the cantata "The Kremlin by Night", which was very coldly received, being considered too dark and pessimistic. The following year, in April, a special congress of the Union of Soviet Composers took place, in which Myaskovsky was denounced as a "formalist", being obliged to apologize and claim that he would change.

Apparently, he was denounced by one of his envious colleagues at the Moscow Conservatory, declaring that he was the resaon behind the corruption of many russian composers by the influence of western modernism, branded as "decadent" by the authorities of the soviet union. As a consequence, Myaskovsky's career was severely damaged and his works were banned from the concert halls of the Soviet Union. He tried to fix this by composing a symphony (the No.26) faithful to the style of socialist realism, but it failed.

With his career completely ruined and his spirit sunk, Myaskovsky worked hard in his last two years of his life, in the solitude of his apartment, finishing his last symphony and string quartet. He was already very sick in late 1949, but he put off recommended surgery until May the next year, but it was too late. The composer died in his home in the evening of 8 August 1950, aged 69.

The first movement is written in sonata form. Opens with a meditative, melancholic theme introduced by the cello. There is passion and yet a valedictory mood of leave taking. It is very Russian in its romanticism. The second theme is a jaunty, angular dance-like tune which brightens the heavy mood of the opening, with a characteristic use of counterpoint. In the development mixes and nuances the previous material. Follows a recapitulation of the themes. A resignated coda ends the movement.

The second movement is a scherzo in ternary form. Opens with a galloping, fast-paced main theme, full of energy. Melodies swirl about to endlessly varying rhythmical combinations. The extensive trio begins with a more melodic but sadder theme. The scherzo's main theme is then fully recapitulated. A quick coda ends the movement.

The third movement is also written in ternary form. Begins with an expressive and romantic theme, almost like a lyrical romance.It is developed and flourished calm and peacefully. The middle section opens with a more tense and bleaker variation of the theme. When it fades away, the original main theme is fully recapitulated. As with the first one, a resignated coda ends this movement.

The fourth movement is written in sonata form. Opens with a firm chord, leading to the presentation of an impulsive and resoluted main theme. In contrast, the second theme is more mellow and lyrical. The development is deeply rhythmic, with an always forward motion. The themes are recapitulated in an inverted way; the second before the first. Finally, an low-key coda ends the whole work.

Picture: "Mourning under the Cross" (1876) by the Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin.

Introduction and musical analysis written by myself. Source: https://bit.ly/3sYpZJD

Видео String Quartet No.13 in A minor - Nikolai Myaskovsky канала Sergio Cánovas