[tbpt46] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in G minor Op 74 No 3 ‘Horseman’ (Hob.III:74) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 74 No 3 ‘Horseman’ (Hob.III:74) in G minor

composition date: 1793

transcription date: 2010 (June 02 – November 01)

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro
2. Largo assai
3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Finale. Allegro con brio

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

This quartet’s nickname (sometimes also called “Rider”) stems from the fourth movement’s first theme rhytmic pattern, I guess… but then also the first theme in the first movement could apply there.

The quartet is officially in G minor but if you consider the time ratio, most of the time the piece is in major mode – e.g. minor mode is mostly a façade, there are no moments that are truly moody or sad.

The Largo is actually in E major (a key “far” from G minor). I transcribed it at the digital piano and then ported it on the computer. I like it a lot but I’m especially proud of how its last bars turned out (I really dig that last low E, it gives me goosebumps everytime 🙂 it must be played pp but with “tre corde” pedal ) The accelerando in the middle section is a liberty I took while playing.

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Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt66] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in G major Op 33 No 5 (Hob.III:41) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 33 No 5 (Hob.III:41) in G major

composition date: 1781

transcription date: 2011

• 1st mvt.: April 26 – July 22
• 2nd mvt.: August 11 – November 05
• 3rd mvt.: August 10 – 11
• 4rd mvt.: October 08 – November 05

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Vivace assai
2. Largo. Cantabile
3. Scherzo. Allegro
4. Finale. Allegretto

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

Transposed in A flat major, because it sounds even better 🙂

The YouTube videos are the transposed version; on IMSLP you can find both the transposed version (in Ab) and the original tonality (in G).

My reference interpretation (as you could guess from the short cadenza of the first movement): by Quatuour Mosaiques.

I fail to understand why the most beautiful quartets either don’t get a nickname or get a lame one… I mean this quartet is so overflowing with joy, it’s a love confession to someone, how could they come up with just “how do you do?” as a nickname? Talk about an understatement…

If I could pick a title for it, I’d call it “Love Letter”.

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Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt34] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in D major Op 64 No 5 ‘Lark’ (Hob.III:63) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 64 No 5 ‘Lark’ (Hob.III:63) in D major

composition date: 1790? 1792?

transcription date: 2009 (October 24 – November 07)

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro moderato
2. Adagio cantabile
3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Finale. Vivace

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

My first transcribed String Quartet and my first Haydn transcription; this was also the first quartet I had listened and “learned” entirely.

The movement that spurred me to transcription was the whirlish Finale. And then I thought, might as well challenge the whole quartet! I was pretty excited, at the time, to complete this and set on to do a second one (see tbpt37); in hindsight, I think the movement with the best result is the third, as some immaturity (mainly in fine-tuning velocity etc.) is less prominent than in the others.

I learned later on that the final movement had already been transcribed by Alkan. Had I known this before, maybe I wouldn’t have tackled the transcription myself… so I’m glad I found out when it was too late!

See also

Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt40] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in A major Op 20 ‘Sun’ No 6 (Hob.III:36) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 20 ‘Sun’ No 6 (Hob.III:36) in A major

composition date: 1771

transcription date: 2010 (January 17 – March 21)

• 1st mvt.: January 31
• 2nd mvt.: March 14 – 21
• 3rd mvt.: January 17
• 4rd mvt.: February 28 – March 21

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro di molto e Scherzando
2. Adagio. Cantabile
3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Fuga a 3 Soggetti. Allegro

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

This is my top favorite of the set, hands down – and of course that’s why it’s the first I transcribed. It is also the happiest one, the sunniest one, without any major clouds… which may be the reason why some critics deem it “inferior” or “a step back” from the others, although I don’t understand them. (Yeah I know the “Sun” in the title is just an ex post derived from a picture on the original cover or something)

I mean, check out the finale: it is a wonderful fugue, so beautiful and so serene. And if it wasn’t enough, in the last page Haydn treats us with a cherry on top: a “rovescio” variation of the themes. It takes more than skill to write such stuff and make it sound so good: it takes a true Master. My all time favorite fugue!

Trivia

The Menuetto was the first piece I completely transcribed on the piano instead than on the computer – actually I still only had a keyboard at the time; a true digital piano would have entered the scene a few weeks later.

See also

Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt50] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in F minor Op 20 ‘Sun’ No 5 (Hob.III:35) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 20 ‘Sun’ No 5 (Hob.III:35) in F minor

composition date: 1771

transcription date: 2010 (July 08 – 18)

• 1st mvt.: July 08 – 16
• 2nd mvt.: July 16 – 17
• 3rd mvt.: July 16 – 18
• 4rd mvt.: July 17

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro moderato
2. Menuetto
3. Adagio
4. Finale. Fuga a due soggetti

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

There isn’t much “sunny” mood here, except the tender Adagio and a few brief spots in the first movement. If you are looking for truly “sunny” quartets try the Op.33 No.5 or the Op.54 No.1.

Among the Fugue movements in the Opus 20 (three out of six quartets in this set end with a fugue) this is perhaps the easiest one (!).

See also

Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt74] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in C major Op 74 No 1 (Hob.III:72) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 74 No 1 (Hob.III:72) in C major

composition date: 1793

transcription date: 2011 – 2012

• 1st mvt.: 2011 (March 12) – 2012 (January 4)
• 2nd mvt.: 2012 (September 01 – 13)
• 3rd mvt.: 2011 (December 28) – 2012 (September 22)
• 4rd mvt.: 2012 (September 08)

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro moderato
2. Andantino grazioso
3. Menuetto. Allegretto
4. Finale. Vivace

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

The first quartet in this Opus was the last one I transcribed, thus completing my first full set of string quartets. Note there was a long hiatus (read: laziness) period between completion of the first and the other movements.

The first movement of this Quartet never fails to remind me, starting from bar 18, of Mozart’s String Quintet in the same tonality (the No.3 KV 515).

See also

Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt44] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in D major Op 20 ‘Sun’ No 4 (Hob.III:34) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 20 ‘Sun’ No 4 (Hob.III:34) in D major

composition date: 1771

transcription date: 2010

• 1st mvt.: July 24 – October 23
• 2nd mvt.: June 26 – July 24 (revised 2011, October 08)
• 3rd mvt.: May 02 (revised 2011, October 08)
• 4rd mvt.: June 26

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro di molto
2. Un poco Adagio affettuoso
3. Menuetto. Allegretto alla zingarese
4. Presto scherzando

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

The YouTube videos are the first version of all movements: I revised/improved the second (Adagio) and third (Menuetto) movements one year later; on IMSLP you can find the revised versions. The second movement was mostly transcribed at the piano (except VAR.II) and then ported on the computer. Someday I’ll upload the revised versions on YouTube as well.

If you’re easily moved, be sure to have your handkerchief ready for the second movement.

See also

Haydn piano transcriptions

[tbpt67] – J. Haydn – String Quartet in G major Op 76 No 1 (Hob.III:75) – piano transcription

original piano transcription of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet Op 76 No 1 (Hob.III:75) in G major

composition date: 1796-97

transcription date: 2011

• 1st mvt.: August 28
• 2nd mvt.: August 14 – December 10
• 3rd mvt.: July 22
• 4rd mvt.: August 29 – September 06

complete piano transcription (piano solo arrangement) of all 4 movements:

1. Allegro con spirito
2. Adagio sostenuto
3. Menuetto. Presto
4. Allegro ma non troppo

Score

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

Recordings

IMSLP.org work page (download mp3 / pdf score)

YouTube channel (embedded links below)

Comment

This one is hardly known as the other “titled” ones in the same opus, but I liked it so I did it.

The second movement was partially transcribed at the piano, while the third movement was the first to be completed because the easiest and shortest, to quickly provide a placeholder for the project – most shameful reason.

My favorite movement is no doubt the last one, though. It starts in G minor with a putting off, jarring theme, but after that great rewards await the trusting listener.

For those interested, my recommended/reference recording for all the Opus 76 quartets is the performance by Quatuor Mosaiques.

See also

Haydn piano transcriptions