Beethoven's Quartet no. 13 in Bb Major, Op. 130 (Beethoven's LAST work)
Beethoven’s Quartet no. 16 in F Major, Op. 135 was his last complete work. However, there is more to the story.
When he turned in his Quartet no. 13 in Bb Major, Op. 130, his publisher was not too happy about the size of the finale, which overwhelmed the rest of the quartet. So he asked Beethoven to write another finale, and publish the original as a separate piece.
Beethoven agreed. And the original finale is now known as the Great Fugue, Op. 133.
So by the time Beethoven got around to writing the subtitle finale for Op. 130, Beethoven was very ill, and after he finished it in November 1826. It became his last piece of music.
It is very hard to imagine this piece of music was written by a very sick dying man. It is surprising joyful and optimistic, seems like Beethoven remained hopeful and pure in heart till the very end.
#Beethoven #classicalmusic #stringquartet #hope #music