String Quartets, Op. 33 (Haydn)
Joseph Haydn wrote six string quartets during the summer and autumn of 1781 for the Viennese publisher Artaria. This set of works carries several nicknames, with the most common being the Russian quartets. The name stems from Haydn's dedication to Grand Duke Paul of Russia. Many of these pieces premiered on Christmas Day in 1781 at the Viennese apartment of the Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna. Scholars have long debated whether this specific collection inspired Mozart's own string quartets dedicated to Haydn. No direct evidence confirms that theory, yet the timing suggests a strong connection between the two composers.
Opus 33 Number 2 exists in E major and bears the nickname The Joke. Its fourth movement introduced a lighter character by shifting from the traditional minuet to the scherzo form. Haydn described his new approach in a letter to Artaria as a new and entirely special kind of composition. The final movement follows an ABACA rondo structure where the refrain always returns to the tonic key. A grand pause occurs near the conclusion, making listeners wonder if the piece has ended prematurely. A sudden forte sixteenth note then shocks the audience into realizing the music continues. The first violin plays the opening theme while rests interrupt the flow every two bars. These pauses grow progressively longer until the work ends abruptly with a soft repeat of half the opening phrase.
This third quartet resides in C major and carries the nickname The Bird. The first movement opens with a melody played on the first violin featuring repeated notes throughout. Grace notes appear between these repeated notes to create a birdlike quality within the sound. This ornamental grace gives the entire quartet its distinctive moniker among collectors and performers. The texture remains light yet intricate enough to satisfy audiences seeking novelty in 1781. Critics have noted how this specific use of ornamentation distinguishes it from earlier chamber works by Haydn.
The fifth quartet lives in G major and is sometimes called How Do You Do based on its opening cadence. Its second movement functions as an aria in G minor for the first violin over steady accompaniment. The melody bears a strong resemblance to the oboe theme beginning Che puro ciel from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. Haydn had directed that opera at Eszterháza back in 1778, so he knew the material well. A written-out accompanied cadenza spans measures forty-one through fifty within this movement. The piece concludes with a unison pizzicato G that echoes the opening gesture. These structural choices reflect Haydn's deep engagement with contemporary operatic styles.
Some scholars theorize that these Russian quartets inspired Mozart's six string quartets dedicated to Haydn. No direct evidence confirms this influence exists between the two composers' bodies of work. The timing of their creation suggests a possible connection during the early 1780s. Haydn dedicated his set to Grand Duke Paul of Russia while Mozart later honored him in return. Critics have examined whether the dedication influenced the musical language used by Mozart. The relationship remains speculative despite the clear historical proximity of both men's careers.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Joseph Haydn write the String Quartets Op. 33?
Joseph Haydn wrote six string quartets during the summer and autumn of 1781 for the Viennese publisher Artaria.
Why are Joseph Haydn's String Quartets Op. 33 called the Russian quartets?
The name stems from Haydn's dedication to Grand Duke Paul of Russia.
What makes the second movement of String Quartet No. 2 in E major unique?
Its fourth movement introduced a lighter character by shifting from the traditional minuet to the scherzo form.
How does the third quartet in C major create its birdlike quality?
Grace notes appear between repeated notes played on the first violin to create a birdlike quality within the sound.
Which opera theme does the fifth quartet in G major resemble?
The melody bears a strong resemblance to the oboe theme beginning Che puro ciel from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.